hypogammaglobulinemia

hypogammaglobulinemia /hy·po·gam·ma·glob·u·lin·emia/ (-gam″ah-glob″u-lĭ-ne´me-ah) deficiency of all classes of immunoglobulins, as in agammaglobulinemia, dysglobulinemia, and immunodeficiency. This is normal for a short period in infants but should not be prolonged.hypogammaglobuline´mic

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common variable hypogammaglobulinemia  see under immunodeficiency.

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hy·po·gam·ma·glob·u·li·ne·mi·a (hp-gm-glby-l-nm-)

n.

1. Decreased quantity of the gamma fraction of serum globulin.

2. A decreased quantity of immunoglobulins in the blood.

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hypogammaglobulinemia

[-gam′əglō′byəlinē′mē·ə]

Etymology: Gk, hypo + gamma, third letter in Greek alphabet; L, globus, small sphere; Gk, haima, blood

a less than normal concentration of gamma globulin in the blood, usually the result of increased protein catabolism or loss of protein in the urine. The condition is associated with a decreased resistance to infection. Also spelled hypogammaglobulinaemia. Compare agammaglobulinemia.

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hypogammaglobulinemia (hī´pō-gam´glob´ūlinē´mē),

n a deficiency of gammaglobulin, usually manifested by recurrent bacterial infections.

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hypogammaglobulinemia

an immunological deficiency state marked by abnormally low levels of generally all classes of immunoglobulins, with increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. It may be primary (called also inherited), or secondary (called also acquired), or it may be physiological. The latter occurs in normal neonates. See also agammaglobulinemia.

The young of most animal species are born hypogammaglobulinemic and remain so until they ingest maternal colostrum which has a high content of immunoglobulins. The ingestion must occur during the first 24-48 hours of life because the large molecules of the globulins are absorbed only during this period. Inadequate supply, or inadequate ingestion or absorption of the immunoglobulins results in prolonged hypogammaglobulinemia and puts the neonate at grave risk of life-threatening infections. This failure of passive antibody transfer is the most common immunodeficiency disease encountered in domestic animal species, especially foals and dairy calves.

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transient hypogammaglobulinemia

occurs in some foals at 3 to 4 months of age because of a delayed onset of immunoglobulin synthesis.

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hypogammaglobulinemia

Immunology A gallimaufry of conditions characterized by ↓ production of proteins, usually Igs, which migrate in the gamma region of a protein electrophoretic gel; hypogammaglobulinemia may be congenital, as in Bruton's disease, or other B-cell defects or acquired, as in CLL, and accompanied by monoclonal gammopathies Treatment Human immune globulin. See Immunodeficiency, B cell.