Polyclonal Hypergammaglobulinemia in a Randomized Sample of Ghanaian Adult Males

• Published in: Blood 2007-11, Vol.110 (11), p.960-960
• Main Authors: Buadi, Francis, Katzmann, Jerry A., Pfeiffer, Ruth M., Hsing, Ann W., Yeboah, Edward D., Biritwum, Richard B., Dispenzieri, Angela, Kyle, Robert, Rajkumar, Vincent, Landgren, Ola
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0006-4971; 1528-0020
• DOI: 10.1182/blood.V110.11.960.960

Introduction Diffuse or polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia has been associated with multiple medical conditions such as autoimmune diseases, infections, and chronic liver diseases. However, the possibility of differences in gamma globulin levels in different races and its association with environmental and socioeconomic factors is not well studied. Method A randomized sample of 917 adult males (50–74 years) in an urban community in Ghana underwent in-person interview and health examination. Serum from all persons was analyzed by electrophoresis performed on agarose gel. Those found to have a monoclonal protein (n=54) were excluded from further analysis. Gamma globulin levels were measured in the remaining 863 samples. Associations between selected characteristics and gamma globulin levels were assessed by Chi-square test and logistic regression models. Results The median gamma globulin level was 1.86 gm/dl. Seventy three percent of the study population had gamma globulin levels above the 1.6 gm/dl reference level and will be considered to have hypergammaglobulinemia. Surprisingly, 25% had gamma globulin levels above 2.17 gm/dl. In univariate analysis increased gamma globulin levels were associated with older age within the study population. Only 54% of the males aged 60 yrs or younger had gamma globulin levels above 1.6 gm/dl compared to 69% in those older than 60 yrs (p=0.007). Higher education level was associated with a low prevalence of hypergammaglobulinemia 51% compared with 74% in those with less than high school education (p