Alpha-chain disease in a non-Mediterranean climate. A case report.

The clinical, biochemical, immunological and histopathological features in a patient with alpha-chain disease are described. The patient, a 20-year-old Coloured man, presented with severe steatorrhoea, malabsorption, abdominal pain and progressive general deterioration. An heterogeneous abnormal band with IgA immunochemical specificity was detected on electrophoresis of the patient's serum and urine. This protein was identified as free alpha-chain and was present in serum, urine, saliva and jejunal juice. A jejunal mucosal biopsy specimen showed distinctive appearances associated with alpha-chain disease. Bone marrow involvement was found and abnormal lymphoid cells were seen in the circulation together with an increased B lymphocyte population derived from bone marrow. This is the third South African patient with alpha-chain disease to be diagnosed. The patient has shown a partial remission after 12 months' chemotherapy. There was rapid symptomatic response and normalisation of protein parameters which were not paralleled by an objectively discernible response as assessed by haematological examination, intestinal absorption studies and histology of the jejunal mucosa.