Gamma-M deficiency predisposing to meningococcal septicaemia.

Abstract

Before his death from cerebrospinal fever Dr. G. D. Heist showed that he was one of the rare individuals whose blood had no bactericidal action on meningococci (Heist et al., 1922). His father and four uncles also died of illnesses resembling meningococcal infections. We have observed two patients with fulminating meningococcal septicaemia who had abnormally low serum yM globulins. Noting the susceptibility of Dr. Heist and possibly his family to meningococcal infections, and the possibility of a causal relation between a deficiency of serum yM globulin and meningococcal infection, we carried out a survey of the immunoglobulin levels in the relatives of our two patients and made a study of antibodies to meningococci.