[Immunogenetic study in a case of DiGeorge syndrome]

DiGeorge Syndrome is a congenital immunodeficiency characterized clinically by hypocalcemic tetany, congenital heart disease, unusual facies, and increased susceptibility to infection. Pathologically, the syndrome is marked by the abscence or hipoplasia of the thymus and parathyroid glands as well as cardiac or aortic arch abnormalities. Most patients show partial or complete T cell immunodeficiency and normal or near-normal B-cell immunity. A review is made on a clinical case of DiGeorge syndrome is presented. A 52 days old boy, was admitted through emergency. There was no familial evidence of alcoholism or immunodeficiency. He showed irritability due to hypocalcemia. The examination revealed facial and cardiovascular abnormalities and the immunological investigation revealed hypogammaglobulinemia, deficiency of the cell, CD4 and CD8 decreased and with inverted relation. Chest X ray showed cardiomegaly grade II, and no thymus was seen. The diagnosis of the complete DiGeorge syndrome was based on the abnormalities found.