The Gastric Disorder in Immunoglobulin-Deficient Patients

Abstract

Evidence of a pernicious-anemia-like disorder was found in 4 out of 10 unselected immunoglobulin-deficient patients; a fifth patient had gastric acid and intrinsic factor secretory failure but did not have histological evidence of atrophic gastritis. Parietal cell and intrinsic factor serum antibodies were not detected. These findings indicate immunoglobulin-deficient patients have an increased prevalence of gastric disease, which adds a further association between the gut and the antibody-producing system. A further association is also made between atrophic gastritis and immunologic disease, and it is indicated that detectable levels of specific serum antibodies are not essential for the development of atrophic gastritis.