Absence of, or extremely low levels of, the gamma fraction of serum globulin; sometimes used loosely to denote absence of immunoglobulins in general. SEE ALSO: hypogammaglobulinemia.
- Bruton a. an X-linked condition, with hypo- or a.; the immune deficiency becomes apparent as maternally transmitted immunoglobulin levels decline in early infancy. SYN: X-linked a..
- secondary a. SYN: secondary immunodeficiency.
- Swiss type a. SYN: severe combined immunodeficiency.
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agam·ma·glob·u·lin·emia or chiefly Brit agam·ma·glob·u·lin·ae·mia (.)ā-.gam-ə-.gläb-yə-lə-'nē-mē-ə n a pathological condition in which the body forms few or no gamma globulins or antibodies compare DYSGAMMAGLOBULINEMIA
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agam·ma·glob·u·lin·emia (a-gam″ə-glob″u-lĭ-neґme-ə) [a-1 + gamma globulin + -emia] absence of all classes of immunoglobulins in the blood; the term was used before assays sensitive enough to detect very low levels of globulins were developed, and most such disorders are really hypogammaglobulinemias (q.v.); see also dysgammaglobulinemia and immunodeficiency.Medical dictionary. 2011.