Thymoma and hypogammaglobulinemia (Good\\\'s syndrome): a case report

Yi-Giien Tsai, Jenn-Haung Lai, San-Yuan Kuo, Hsiang-Cheng Chen, Deh-Ming Chang
Department of Pediatrics, Christian Hospital, Institute of Medical Research, Chang Jung Christian University, Changhua; and Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.

Received: November 7, 2003    Revised: November 30, 2003    Accepted: August 9, 2004   

Dr. Deh-Ming Chang, Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, No.325, Section 2, Cheng-Kung Road, Neihu 114, Taipei 100, Taiwan. E-mail: ming0503@ms3.hint.net This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Good's syndrome is extremely rare and refers to an acquired B and T cell immunodeficiency in thymoma patients. We report a 51-year-old female thymoma patient who presented with recurrent herpes zoster, pneumonia, diarrhea and opportunistic infections. She was found to have acquired hypogammaglobulinemia with absent B cells. Despite repeat intravenous immunoglobulin replacement and antibiotic therapy, she died of bacterial pneumonia-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome. Clinicians should look for evidence of immunologic dysfunction in thymoma patients presenting with recurrent infections.

 

Thymoma, hypogammaglobulinemia



 

J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2005;38:218-220.