How I Treat: Immune dysregulation in Down syndrome

Immune dysregulation in Down syndrome (DS) is a highly clinically relevant yet underrecognized feature of this common genetic syndrome. Infection is the leading cause of mortality in DS. This infectious risk likely stems from underlying immunodeficiency compounded by their unique intrinsic anatomy. Furthermore, individuals with DS display a broad range of autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases, spanning dermatologic, neurologic, and metabolic features, which are often difficult to treat with immunomodulators. Through real clinical vignettes of our patients, we will describe how we treat immune dysregulation in DS.