[Alpha-heavy chain disease--Mediterranean lymphoma].

For 6 months diarrhea and weight loss of 30 kg occurred in a 28 year old man from the Emirates. The endoscopic examination suggested a small intestinal lymphoma affecting the entire small intestine, which was confirmed by biopsies, immunohistochemistry, immunologic proof of monoclonal IgA-gammopathy in serum and urine. The patient acquired a malignant MALT-lymphoma of B-cell-type, a alpha-Heavy Chain Disease, synonym mediterranean lymphoma or immunoproliferative small intestinal disease (IPSID), stage A with transition in stage B. The patient was treated with ciprofloxacine in association with metronidazole with no influence of the course of the disease.