Macroglobulinaemia and intestinal lymphangiectasia: a rare association

Abstract

Two cases in which macroglobulinaemia was associated with intestinal lymphangiectasia are recorded. Immunoperoxidase stains demonstrated a high content of monoclonal IgM in the intestinal lymph. The seven previously recorded examples of this association are reviewed. It is concluded that the concurrence of these two conditions is not merely fortuitous, and that increased viscosity of the lymph consequent on its high IgM content may be important in the pathogenesis of the intestinal lymphangiectasia.