Severe strongyloidiasis associated with hypogammaglobulinaemia

The association of severe strongyloidiasis and hypogammaglobulinaemia in one patient is described. Severe strongyloidiasis was observed twice (March 1971 and June 1974), and the Strongyloides stercoralis infestation probably lasted for at least 58 months (from March 1971 to December 1975), in spite of successive thiabendazole courses of treatment. Immunological studies performed disclosed severe, steady hypogammaglobulinaemia but no abnormality in cell-mediated immunity. The respiratory infections also seen during the follow-up were ascribable more to humoral immunity impairment than to cell-mediated immunity impairment. This is the first report of the association of hypogammaglobulinaemia and severe strongyloidiasis, and it suggests that humoral immunity plays a relevant role in the human defences against S. stercoralis infestation.