Common variable hypogammaglobulinemia. A case report.

We describe a patient with severe common variable hypogammaglobulinemia (CVH) whose clinical course was dominated by resistant giardiasis requiring prolonged hospitalization. The giardiasis was eventually controlled by initial metronidazole and subsequent mepacrine therapy, but side effects necessitated the withdrawal of both of these drugs. Replacement immunoglobulin treatment failed to restore normal serum immunoglobulin levels, but despite this, they appeared to be of value in reducing the liability to recurrent giardiasis. We discuss the use of immunoglobulin supplementation in this condition and the frequent association between CVH and pentagastrinfast achlorhydria.