[Alpha heavy chain disease. A Tunisian case]. / Maladie des chaines lourdes alpha. A propos d'un cas tunisien.

Alpha heavy chain disease is a rare affection in the West and reported mainly in developing countries with the improvement of hygienic conditions, the disease become rare in Tunisia, the last case was reported in 1991. The aim of the study is to report a new Tunisian case and to describe clinical, endoscopical and histological characteristics of the disease. The patient in a 37 years old male, presented with chronic diarrhoea associated with malabsorption syndrome. The diagnosis of alpha heavy chain disease was confirmed by histological examination of the resected intestine after surgery for intestinal obstruction. The patient received chemotherapy. The follow up is of two months.