Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Deletion

**Semantic type:** Disease or Syndrome

**Definition:** A disorder that affects the production of complete immunoglobulins. Deletions in the heavy chain genes on chromosome 14 disrupt the synthesis and secretion of properly functioning antibodies resulting in monoclonal populations of truncated heavy chains without covalently bonded light chains. Such deletions have been implicated as playing a significant role in several diseases including leukemias, lymphomas and myelomas.