[Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the small intestine with immunodeficiency]

Eleven patients with small-intestinal nodular lymphoid hyperplasia combined with immunodeficiency were studied; special reference was made to the clinical appearance as well as roentgenologic, endoscopic, electron-microscopic, histochemical and immunomorphologic evidence of this condition. It is suggested that the demonstrated morphologic and enzymatic changes in the lymphoid apparatus reflect a disturbance at the immunogenetic level where lymphocyte B function is connected with adequate immunoglobulin synthesis by plasma cells. This disturbance accounts for excessive lymphocyte proliferation within the intestinal wall and lymph nodes, and even the production of inadequate, or sometimes abnormal, immunoglobulins by plasma cells.