Congenital Hypogammaglobulinaemia with Steatorrhoea in Two Adult Brothers

Abstract
Two adult brothers, aged 25 and 27, were found to have "congenital" hypogammaglobulinaemia associated with steatorrhoea. Their clinical state has responded to parenteral gamma-globulin replacement, but steatorrhoea persists in mild degree and is not responsive to a gluten-free regime. Both brothers have had severe intermittent anaphylactic-like reactions to the injected gamma-globulin. Members of the immediate family were found to have hyper-gammaglobulinaemia. The classification of these cases is discussed, and the incidence of steatorrheea in hypogammaglobulinaemia reviewed. A genetic model of a possible inheritance pattern using the Xg blood-group system is constructed.