[Primary immunodeficiencies. Results of an European public health consensus conference]

Primary immunodeficiencies (PID) re present for the patients but also for society and our health care system a significant burden. More than 500 genetically well characterized inborn immunodeficiencies have been described to date. In Germany we expect 100,000 to be affected by this disease, but only about 1,400 patients have been diagnosed and are under treatment. There is a tremendous lack of information, diagnostics and adequate therapy. The topic was discussed extensively at an EU-funded consensus conference in June 2006 at the Paul Ehrlich Institute in Langen. The most important results are summarized in this article.