Two cases of alpha heavy chain disease in Venezuelans

Two cases of alpha chain disease are described. The clinicopathological features of the two patients were very similar, and similar to the numerous cases described in the literature, presenting the gastrointestinal form of the disease. In both patients the pathological protein was not noticeable in the electrophoretic pattern. The diagnosis was established by immunoselection with electrophoresis. The alpha-HCD proteins belonged to the alpha 1 subclass and in no case was it found in the urine. The patients were young Venezuelan mestizos and seem to be the first cases reported in Venezuela.