Normalization of Antibody Responsiveness in a Patient with Common Variable Hypogammaglobulinemia and HIV Infection

COMMON variable hypogammaglobulinemia is an immunodeficiency disorder characterized by decreased serum immunoglobulin levels, impaired antibody responses to most antigens, and increased susceptibility to infection.1 , 2 Cellular immunity may be intact, although at least half the patients have some evidence of decreased cellular immune responses as evaluated by delayed-type hypersensitivity or lymphocyte proliferative responses.3 Several possible mechanisms for common variable hypogammaglobulinemia have been proposed on the basis of in vitro assessment of immunoglobulin production. The majority of patients have an intrinsic defect in B-cell maturation or function that precludes in vivo or in vitro antibody synthesis.4 , 5 A number of patients have impaired . . .