OBJECTIVEMore than one hundred primary immunodeficiency disorders have been discovered so far. But the incidence of these disorders in our country is still not clear, so we analyzed the clinical data of 93 children with primary immunodeficiency disorders seen in our hospital in recent 30 years to understand the occurrence of primary immunodeficiency disorders in children, to promote the clinicians to become familiar with these disorders, to improve the nationwide registry system and to establish the basis for the treatment and prevention in future.

METHODSTo analyze the constituent ratio of the 93 children with primary immunodeficiency disorders seen in our hospital from 1974 to 2003, diagnostic and classification criteria were set by taking the proposal by International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) PID classification committee in 2003 into account. All the data were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSIn the 93 children with primary immunodeficiency disorders, antibody deficiencies were the most frequent (39.8%) finding, followed by combined immunodeficiency, combined T- and B-cell disorders (22.6%), and T lymphocytic deficiencies alone (14.0%). Immunodeficiency with other major defects accounted for 12.9%, phagocytic disorders 9.7%, and complement deficiencies 1.1%. Thus, there seemed to be a tendency that the incidence increased with time. The incidence of these disorders has increased significantly as shown by 50 diagnosed cases in children with these disorders since 1996. Sixteen children died, with the highest mortality occurred with combined immunodeficiency. Seven children developed bronchiectasis. Two children suffered from persistent diarrhea while one of the two was complicated with persistent intestinal fistula. One child developed juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, another one with granulocytopenia and iridocyclitis, and the other with allergic purpura. The boys: girls ratio for all disorders was 3:1. The age of onset ranged from 10 days to 37 years of age.

CONCLUSIONSThere are vast variety of primary immunodeficiency disorders in our area and antibody deficiency is the most common abnormality. Combined immunodeficiency has early onset age and high mortality rate. With the great improvement of the diagnostic techniques, these disorders have become a group of important disorders and all the clinicians should pay great attention to these disorders.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Agammaglobulinemia ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes ; classification ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Registries ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Severe Combined Immunodeficiency ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Sex Factors ; Time Factors

This study represents the first epidemiological study based on the national registry of primary immunodeficiencies (PID) in Korea. Patient data were collected from 23 major hospitals. A total of 152 patients with PID (under 19 yr of age), who were observed from 2001 to 2005, have been entered in this registry. The period prevalence of PID in Korea in 2005 is 11.25 per million children. The following frequencies were found: antibody deficiencies, 53.3% (n = 81), phagocytic disorders, 28.9% (n = 44); combined immunodeficiencies, 13.2% (n = 20); and T cell deficiencies, 4.6% (n = 7). Congenital agammaglobulinemia (n = 21) and selective IgA deficiency (n = 21) were the most frequently reported antibody deficiency. Other reported deficiencies were common variable immunodeficiencies (n = 16), X-linked agammaglobulinemia (n = 15), IgG subclass deficiency (n = 4). Phagocytic disorder was mostly chronic granulomatous disease. A small number of patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, hyper-IgE syndrome, and severe combined immunodeficiency were also registered. Overall, the most common first manifestation was pneumonia. This study provides data that permit a more accurate estimation PID patients in Korea.
Adolescent ; Agammaglobulinemia/congenital/epidemiology ; Age Distribution ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Common Variable Immunodeficiency/epidemiology ; Female ; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked/epidemiology ; Humans ; IgA Deficiency/epidemiology ; IgG Deficiency/epidemiology ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes/*epidemiology ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Job's Syndrome/epidemiology ; Male ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Registries ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Severe Combined Immunodeficiency/epidemiology ; Sex Distribution ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome/epidemiology ; Young Adult

PURPOSE:Primary immunodeficiency diseases are disorders in which part of the body's immune system is missing or does not function properly due to intrinsic defects in the immune system. These patients have an increased susceptibility to pulmonary complications as well as primary infections. This study was to investigate pulmonary complications in patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases and characterize their patterns according to specific immune defects. METHODS:We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 37 different cases of primary immunodeficiency diseases that were admitted to Severance hospital in Seoul between 1990 and 2006. RESULTS:Many patients had a previous history of recurrent respiratory infections and some suffered from pulmonary complications. Eight patients with hypogammaglobulinemia showed peribronchial wall thickening or bronchiectasis, and pneumatoceles or emphysematous changes were characteristic complications in two patients with hyper IgE syndrome. On microbiological examination, various bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, were isolated from the hypogammaglobulinemia patients' sputum or ear discharge. In some patients with cell-mediated immune defects, such as chronic granulomatous disease or severe combined immune deficiency, yeast and ameba were isolated from the sputum and bronchial washing fluid respectively. CONCLUSION:Infections account for most of these complications, but the host reaction to infection seems to cause characteristic findings that could be helpful for diagnosis. The physician should be alert for the early diagnosis of children with primary immunodeficiency in order to prevent pulmonary complications.
Agammaglobulinemia ; Amoeba ; Bacteria ; Bronchiectasis ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Ear ; Early Diagnosis ; Granulomatous Disease, Chronic ; Humans ; Immune System ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes ; Job Syndrome ; Lung Diseases ; Medical Records ; Pseudomonas ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Sputum ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Yeasts

PURPOSE:Primary immunodeficiency diseases are disorders in which part of the body's immune system is missing or does not function properly due to intrinsic defects in the immune system. These patients have an increased susceptibility to pulmonary complications as well as primary infections. This study was to investigate pulmonary complications in patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases and characterize their patterns according to specific immune defects. METHODS:We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 37 different cases of primary immunodeficiency diseases that were admitted to Severance hospital in Seoul between 1990 and 2006. RESULTS:Many patients had a previous history of recurrent respiratory infections and some suffered from pulmonary complications. Eight patients with hypogammaglobulinemia showed peribronchial wall thickening or bronchiectasis, and pneumatoceles or emphysematous changes were characteristic complications in two patients with hyper IgE syndrome. On microbiological examination, various bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, were isolated from the hypogammaglobulinemia patients' sputum or ear discharge. In some patients with cell-mediated immune defects, such as chronic granulomatous disease or severe combined immune deficiency, yeast and ameba were isolated from the sputum and bronchial washing fluid respectively. CONCLUSION:Infections account for most of these complications, but the host reaction to infection seems to cause characteristic findings that could be helpful for diagnosis. The physician should be alert for the early diagnosis of children with primary immunodeficiency in order to prevent pulmonary complications.
Agammaglobulinemia ; Amoeba ; Bacteria ; Bronchiectasis ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Ear ; Early Diagnosis ; Granulomatous Disease, Chronic ; Humans ; Immune System ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes ; Job Syndrome ; Lung Diseases ; Medical Records ; Pseudomonas ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Sputum ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Yeasts

Humans ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes ; classification

Child ; Humans ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes

Humans ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes/therapy*

Humans ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes/genetics*

In most cases, acute diarrhea in childhood heals spontaneously, but it may become the form of chronic diarrhea in immunodeficient children and then cause weight loss, dehydration, malabsorption and malnutrition. The immunodeficient diseases associated with chronic diarrhea include severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome, common variable immunodeficiency, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, agammaglobulinemia or selective IgA deficiency. IgA deficiency is the most common primary immunodeficiency. Because many IgA deficient individuals seem to have compensated for their deficiency with increased IgM production and various nonimmunologic factors, the incidence of gastrointestinal involvement is not prominent. Some of those with IgA deficiency and recurrent infections have been found to also have IgG subclass deficiency. IgA deficiency with IgG2 and IgG4 subclass deficiency have high susceptability to infection and chronic diarrhea. IgG subclass deficiency, when present, is more likely to be found in association with a partial IgA deficiency rather than complete IgA deficiency. We report a 3-month-old male with intractable diarrhea accompanied by IgA, IgG2, and IgG4 deficiency.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Agammaglobulinemia ; Child ; Common Variable Immunodeficiency ; Dehydration ; Diarrhea* ; Humans ; IgA Deficiency ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Immunoglobulin M ; Incidence ; Infant ; Male ; Malnutrition ; Severe Combined Immunodeficiency ; Weight Loss

Good's syndrome is the rare association of immunodeficiency with thymoma, characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia, depleted B-cells, diminished T-cells and inversion of the CD4/CD8 ratio. Thymectomy does not usually improve hypogammaglobulinemia; thus, the patient remains prone to infections. Infections affect primarily the sinopulmonary and gastrointestinal system. Here we present a case of a 71-year-old woman with common manifestations of Good's syndrome who succumbed to disseminated tuberculosis. Serum immunoglobulin levels should be measured for patients with thymoma and susceptibility to infection.
Agammaglobulinemia ; Aged ; B-Lymphocytes ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes ; Opportunistic Infections ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thymectomy ; Thymoma ; Tuberculosis