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Gammopathies

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Braun-Falco´s Dermatology

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Abstract

Hypergammaglobulinemia results from a pathologically increased production of γ globulins, that can be either mono- or polyclonal. Monoclonal gammopathy is always the consequence of a clonal B lymphocyte/plasma cell expansion with homogeneous monoclonal (M) immunoglobulin production. Diseases associated with this type of clonal proliferation are also referred to as plasma cell dyscrasia or dysproteinemias. In contrast, polyclonal gammopathy consists of a multitude of immunoglobulins produced by various stimulated B lymphocytes. It can occur in the context of lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, Sjögren’s syndrome, or chronic infections such as hepatitis B or C or acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, as a result of repeated stimulation by an antigen. The clinical manifestations of polyclonal gammopathies are heterogeneous.

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References

Introductory Remarks

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dermatology Service, Clinique Dermatologique, Strasbourg, France

    Dan Lipsker

  2. Clinic and Polyclinic for Dermatology and Allergology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany

    Peter Thomas

Authors
  1. Dan Lipsker
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  2. Peter Thomas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dan Lipsker .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Gerd Plewig

  2. Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Lars French

  3. Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    Thomas Ruzicka

  4. Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany

    Roland Kaufmann

  5. Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany

    Michael Hertl

Section Editor information

  1. Head of the Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Frankfurt University Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Roland Kaufmann

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Lipsker, D., Thomas, P. (2022). Gammopathies. In: Plewig, G., French, L., Ruzicka, T., Kaufmann, R., Hertl, M. (eds) Braun-Falco´s Dermatology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-63709-8_91

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-63709-8_91

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-63708-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-63709-8

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