Primary "acquired" hypogammaglobulinaemia and amyloidosis

The clinical details and post-mortem findings are given of a patient who had primary ;acquired' hypogammaglobulinaemia and was found at necropsy to have amyloidosis. The relationship of gamma globulin deficiency to amyloidosis is discussed, and the possible relevance of the hypogammaglobulinaemia to the formation and nature of amyloid is noted. It is suggested that a disordered immune response may be an essential prerequisite for the development of amyloidosis.