Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis 2012;4(1):e2012034

Bone marrow involvement in a patient with alpha heavychain disease: response to tetracycline treatment.

Bolaman Z, Yavasoglu I, Sargin G, Kadikoylu G, Doğer FK.
Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Aydin, Turkey.

Abstract

A 28-year-old man from East Mediterranean area admitted with abdominal pain, weight loss and diarrhea. Barium x-ray studies showed segmentation, dilatation of bowel loops, mucosal folds thickening and delayed intestinal transit. Histological examination of biopsy specimens revealed villous atrophy and plasmacytic infiltration limited to mucosa and submucosa. Computed tomography showed multiple lymphadenopathy in the abdomen. Serum protein electropheresis and immunoelectropheresis indicated elevated IgA concentration. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy revealed presence of lymphoplasmacytic infiltration. Immunohistochemical analysis of the intestine, lymph nodes showed positivity for CD45, CD-79, CD-20. After tetracycline treatment the patient's symptoms, abdominal lymphadenopathy and bone marrow infiltration disappeared and IgA concentration decreased to normal levels.