[HTML][HTML] Immunoproliferative Small Intestinal Disease Associated with Campylobacter jejuni
New England Journal of Medicine, 2004•Mass Medical Soc
Background Immunoproliferative small intestinal disease (also known as alpha chain
disease) is a form of lymphoma that arises in small intestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid
tissue (MALT) and is associated with the expression of a monotypic truncated
immunoglobulin α heavy chain without an associated light chain. Early-stage disease
responds to antibiotics, suggesting a bacterial origin. We attempted to identify a causative
agent. Methods We performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing …
disease) is a form of lymphoma that arises in small intestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid
tissue (MALT) and is associated with the expression of a monotypic truncated
immunoglobulin α heavy chain without an associated light chain. Early-stage disease
responds to antibiotics, suggesting a bacterial origin. We attempted to identify a causative
agent. Methods We performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing …
Background
Immunoproliferative small intestinal disease (also known as alpha chain disease) is a form of lymphoma that arises in small intestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) and is associated with the expression of a monotypic truncated immunoglobulin α heavy chain without an associated light chain. Early-stage disease responds to antibiotics, suggesting a bacterial origin. We attempted to identify a causative agent.
Methods
We performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA sequencing, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemical studies on intestinal-biopsy specimens from a series of patients with immunoproliferative small intestinal disease.
Results
Analysis of frozen intestinal tissue obtained from an index patient with immunoproliferative small intestinal disease who had a dramatic response to antibiotics revealed the presence of Campylobacter jejuni. A follow-up retrospective analysis of archival intestinal-biopsy specimens disclosed campylobacter species in four of six additional patients with immunoproliferative small intestinal disease.
Conclusions
These results indicate that campylobacter and immunoproliferative small intestinal disease are associated and that C. jejuni should be added to the growing list of human pathogens responsible for immunoproliferative states.
The New England Journal Of Medicine