Primary immune deficiency among patients with recurrent infections.

OBJECTIVES: Primary immune deficiency is relatively rare. Patients present with recurrent or persistent infections or infections with opportunistic pathogens. We investigated patients who presented during the years 2005-7 with recurrent or persistent infections or infections with opportunistic organisms, for underlying immune deficiency.

DESIGN: Descriptive study.

SETTING: Department of Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Colombo.

STUDY POPULATION: 257 patients referred to the Department of Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Colombo, with a history of recurrent infections, for evaluation of possible immune deficiency.

MEASUREMENTS: Appropriate evaluation of immunological competence of the humoral and cell mediated immune systems.

RESULTS: There were 8 patients with agammaglobulinaemia (X linked agammaglobulinaemia and autosomal recessive agammaglobulinaemia), 2 patients each with ataxia telangiectasia, IgA deficiency and hyper-IgE syndrome, 3 patients with common variable immune deficiency (CVID), and 1 patient each with Griscelli syndrome, hyper-IgM syndrome and X linked severe combined immune deficiency (SCID).

CONCLUSIONS: Primary immune deficiency must be included in the evaluation of patients with recurrent infections, and timely intervention can prevent morbidity and mortality.