A Pleural mass biopsy was performed showing an invasive thymoma. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest performed on admission revealed a left sided pleural mass, anterior mediastinal mass, lymphadenopathy and pericardial effusion. Pleural mass biopsy showed an invasive thymoma. Due to her clinical presentation, a complete work-up was performed revealing paraneoplastic systemic lupus erythe...

Serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) demonstrates a monoclonal protein as an M spike in the majority of patients with monoclonal gammopathies. However, in patients with an apparently normal SPE pattern or hypogammaglobulinemia, immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) can reveal an M protein. We undertook this study to determine the yield of reflex IFE testing in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia ...

Immunoglobulin (Ig) replacement therapy dramatically changed the clinical course of primary hypogammaglobulinemias, significantly reducing the incidence of infectious events. Over the last two decades its use has been extended to secondary antibody deficiencies, particularly those related to hematological disorders as lymphoproliferative diseases (LPDs) and multiple myeloma. In these malignanci...

T HIS REPORT illustrates a dynamic or progressive relationship between a lymphoproliferative disorder associated with hypogammaglobulinemia, and myelomatosis indicated by serum protein analysis. A middle-aged man was hospitalized for hemoglobinuria and anemia requiring multiple transfusions. Later, hypogammaglobulinemia was observed. In blood, erythrocytes were normochromic, leukocyte and plate...

B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients frequently suffer from moderate to severe hypogammaglobulinemia. This complication is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in this disorder. There is recent evidence that natural killer (NK) cells modulate B-cell immunoglobin (Ig) synthesis/secretion. The authors therefore evaluated the circulating NK cells from B-CLL patients on their ability...