Congenital X-linked hypogammaglobulinemia and asymptomatic hepatitis B antigen carrier state

Hepatitis occurring in patients with congenital X-linked or common variable hypogammaglobulinemia has been reported to follow a usual pattern of rapid progression from acute hepatitis to either chronic active hepatitis or death. This article describes a 21-year-old black man with congenital X-linked hypogammaglobulinemia who has been known to be a hepatitis B-associated antigen carrier during a 9-year follow up period. Liver enzyme studies are normal. His immunologic studies demonstrate no impairment of cellular immunity. His brother, who has the same disease and lives in the same household, has remained negative for hepatitis B-associated antigen. This patient demonstrates that not all hypogammaglobulinemia patients invariably have a severe clinical course with hepatitis.