[Immunodeficiency syndromes--a new WHO report (author's transl)]

This short note is meant to point out the importance of a new WHO publication on immunodeficiency syndromes (IDS), which was prepared by an expert committee. For the classification of primary IDS, three different principles are useful, each for particular purposes. For the first time, the importance and frequency of secondary IDS are discussed as well. The original report should be read by clinical immunologists, pediatricians, internists and others interested in IDS.