alpha-chain disease

Introduction

Occurs mainly in young adults, most commonly in Mediterranean area. Characterized by massive inflitration of the intestinal lamina propria & abdominal lymph nodes by lymphocytes, plasma cells, & histiocytes. Villous atrophy, malabsorption, diarrhea, steatorrhea, & hypocalcemia result from the infiltration. May evolve into immunoblastic B cell lymphoma.

More general terms

• heavy chain disease; Franklin disease