Primary immune deficiency among patients with recurrent infections

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.

Descriptive study.

Department of Immunology, Medical Research Institute, Colombo.

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

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

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).

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