[Chronic diarrhea as a clinical expression of common variable hypogammaglobulinemia: apropos of 3 cases]. / Diarrea crónica como expresión clínica de la hipogammaglobulinemia común variable. A propósito de 3 casos.

Sixty per cent of the patients with immuno-compromise of the humoral compartment may show chronic diarrhoea, specially seen in the common variable hypogammaglobulinemia (CVH). We presented 3 cases of late-onset CVH who referred chronic diarrhoea as the main symptom. The immunodiagnosis revealed undetectable or subnormal immunoglobulins levels (G, M, A), preserved total haemolytic complement and a negative autoimmune screening. The cell compartment analysis showed increased number of suppressor T lymphocytes (CD8) plus hyporesponsiveness of the total peripheral lymphocytes to polyclonal mitogens such PHA. The clinical approach of the CVH patients should be performed by a multispecialized team including the clinical immunologist and the gastrointestinal and infectious diseases specialists.

Immunopathogenic aspects of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus in Venezuela.

A study of the immunopathogenic characteristics of HIV infection was begun in 1984 at the National Reference Center on Clinical Immunology (CNRIC) in Caracas, Venezuela, on 240 individuals with a variety of clinical manifestations. The most important findings were depletion of the CD4 cells in HIV-infected individuals, including asymptomatic carriers; significant reduction of the CD3-, CD16+ large granular lymphocytes (LGL) in AIDS cases; decrease in LGL cytotoxic activity in infected persons versus controls, along with increased lytic function induced by stimulation with recombinant interleukin-2 in both groups; and reduction of the CD4 population in AIDS patients, independent of the presence or absence of free serum antigen. Such research is helping to clarify the immunopathogenic mechanisms of HIV and possible geographic and demographic variations.