Alpha-heavy chain disease

Alpha-heavy chain disease is characterized by incomplete monoclonal heavy alpha chains with no associated light chains. It is considered to be a type of HCD and subtype of the immunoproliferative small intestinal disease. The disease is associated with poor sanitary conditions. The age of onset occurs especially in younger age groups (20-30 years).

The cause is unknown, but it is believed that the immune system of the digestive tract will respond to chronic antigenic stimulation by intestinal organisms with lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the intestinal mucosa.