Immunodeficiency as a component of recognizable syndromes

Lung Infections

A review of pulmonary infections of all types with diagnostic and morphological features.

Clinical and imaging considerations in primary immunodeficiency disorders: an update

Primary immunodeficiencies are a group of genetically determined disorders with diverse presentations. The purpose of this review is to provide a practical and brief description of a select number of these diseases and to discuss the important role the radiologist can have in making an early diagnosis and in detecting and following disease complications. The role of diagnostic imaging and informed performance and interpretation are vital in the diagnosis, surveillance and management of all primary immunodeficiency disorders.

Oro-facio-dental findings of rubinstein-taybi syndrome as a useful diagnostic feature

Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome (RTS) is a rare multiple congenital syndrome characterized by distinctive facial features, mental and growth retardation, broad thumbs and great toes. This case report describes the oro-dental manifestations, as well as, orthodontic evaluation of a 9-year-old male patient who had RTS. The remarkable oro-dental features were talon-like cingulum on maxillary central incisors, unerupted supernumerary teeth. Cone-beam computerized tomography was taken in order to identify his skeletal anomalies, bilateral cross-bite and a narrow maxilla were diagnosed. Dental treatments were completed under i.v sedation due to the patient's inability to cooperate during dental treatment. Perioparetive and postoperative courses were uneventful. Following dental treatments, orthodontic therapy was initiated with a fixed rapid maxillary expansion appliance.

Rubinstein-taybi syndrome: a case report

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome or Broad Thumb-Hallux syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by facial dysmorphism, growth retardation, and mental deficiency. A seven-year-old girl had come to the Department of Pedodontics, Istanbul Medipol University, Faculty of Dentistry, Turkey, with a complaint of caries and bleeding of gingivae. The patient was mentally retarded. Extraoral features revealed distinctive facial appearance with a broad fore head, hypertelorism, broad nasal bridge, and beaked nose. Intraoral features observed were talons cusps in the upper lateral incisors, carious teeth, and plaque accumulation. Since the patient was mentally retarded, the dental treatment was done under GA. The treatment plan and dental management of this patient are discussed in this case report.

Hoffman syndrome: New patients, new insights

Hypogammaglobulinemia or agammaglobulinemia are major features of specific syndromes, including X-linked agammaglobulinemia and common variable immunodeficiency. However, the combination of hypogammaglobulinemia with specific dysmorphic features is less common, with only a few reported cases. One such report was a sporadic case of humoral immunodeficiency, facial dysmorphism, and limb anomalies in a young girl, later referred to as Hoffman syndrome. We report on a 7-year-old girl with almost complete loss of B cells, facial dysmorphism, and malformation of the limbs and genitalia, whose mother shows similar dysmorphic features with an attenuated version of the B-cell deficiency. We believe that all three cases described above represent the same condition. The features of the three affected individuals with Hoffman syndrome are reviewed. Further investigations in this recently recognized B-cell immunodeficiency syndrome are warranted.

Evaluation of the immune humoral response of Brazilian patients with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a rare developmental disorder characterized by craniofacial dysmorphisms, broad thumbs and toes, mental and growth deficiency, and recurrent respiratory infections. RTS has been associated with CREBBP gene mutations, but EP300 gene mutations have recently been reported in 6 individuals. In the present study, the humoral immune response in 16 RTS patients with recurrent respiratory infections of possible bacterial etiology was evaluated. No significant differences between patients and 16 healthy controls were detected to explain the high susceptibility to respiratory infections: normal or elevated serum immunoglobulin levels, normal salivary IgA levels, and a good antibody response to both polysaccharide and protein antigens were observed. However, most patients presented high serum IgM levels, a high number of total B cell and B subsets, and also high percentiles of apoptosis, suggesting that they could present B dysregulation. The CREBBP/p300 family gene is extremely important for B-cell regulation, and RTS may represent an interesting human model for studying the molecular mechanisms involved in B-cell development.

A newly recognized, likely autosomal recessive syndrome comprising agammaglobulinemia, microcephaly, craniosynostosis, severe dermatitis, and other features

We present a novel, likely autosomal recessive, multi-system disorder seen in three siblings, two males and one female, born to nonconsanguineous parents. The disease manifests as agammaglobulinemia with marked microcephaly, significant developmental delay, craniosynostosis, a severe dermatitis, cleft palate, narrowing of the choanae, and blepharophimosis. The constellation of clinical signs seen in this family likely represents a new and recognizable form of agammaglobulinemia due to a defect in early B-cell maturation.

Periodontal disease in a Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome patient: case report

INTRODUCTION

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a rare disorder affecting 1 of 300,000 people, characterized by growth, mental and motor retardation, small stature, broad thumbs and toes, characteristic face, high-arched palate, and recurrent respiratory infections.

CASE REPORT

The present report describes the periodontal and immunological status of a 14-year-old female patient with RTS. Probing depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, and radiographic evaluation were performed. Periodontal examination revealed severe attachment loss in incisors and molars and generalized bleeding on probing. Periodontal treatment consisted of scaling and root planing and oral hygiene instructions. Periodontal treatment resulted in resolution of gingival inflammation and pocket depth reductions. The association of periodontal disease and RTS is previously undescribed.

CONCLUSION

This case report underscores the importance of periodontal clinical diagnosis and the possibility of successful periodontal treatment in RTS patients.

Autosomal dominant B-cell immunodeficiency, distal limb anomalies and urogenital malformations (BILU syndrome) - report of a second family

A family with an unusual combination of B-cell immunodeficiency, distal limb abnormalities, genitourinary malformations, and mild dysmorphic features has recently been described. Here, we report a second family with similar features, which also shows autosomal dominant inheritance. In affected individuals from both families, sequence analysis of candidate gene HOXA13 did not identify a mutation, and there was no evidence of a microdeletion involving either HOXA13 or the HOXA cluster as a whole. We further delineate the phenotype of this condition in females and add weight to the observation that this is a true syndromic association.

Girl with combined cellular immunodeficiency, pancytopenia, malformations, deletion 11q23.3 --> qter, and trisomy 8q24.3 --> qter

We describe here a 3-year-old girl demonstrating combined cellular immunodeficiency of B- and T-cells, pancytopenia, multiple anomalies, and severe mental retardation. Cytogenetic analysis and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) indicated an unbalanced translocation of chromosomes 8q and 11q, resulting in monosomy 11q23.3-qter and trisomy 8q24.3-qter. The association of cellular immunodeficiency and partial deletion 11q and/or partial trisomy 8q has not been described previously; however, the 11q deletion has been reported with humoral immunodeficiency or pancytopenia. Some one-third to one-half of patients with partial monosomy 11q were reported to have pancytopenia, which has been related to the absence of the 11q23-q24 region. Our case narrows down the critical interval for thrombo- or pancytopenia to 11q23.3-q24 and excludes both the ATM (which resides on 11q23.1) and the MLL genes as possible candidate genes. We are proposing that haploinsufficiency of the NFRKB gene on 11q24-q25 and/or the ETS-1 proto-oncogene on 11q24 may have caused or contributed to the immunodeficiency (decreased levels of B- and T-lymphocytes) in our patient.

Microphthalmia, facial anomalies, microcephaly, thumb and hallux hypoplasia, and agammaglobulinemia

We report a boy, born to consanguineous patients, with agammaglobulinemia associated with multiple physical anomalies: mild intrauterine growth retardation, extreme microphthalmia (clinical anophthalmia), severe microcephaly, blepharophimosis, long face with temporal narrowing, scaphocephalic skull shape, posterior cleft palate, hypoplastic, adducted thumbs with small nails, and short, inward turned halluces with absent distal phalanges and nails. Psychomotor development was moderately delayed. No mutations were found in exons of BKT and PAX-5 genes. This unreported constellation could represent a novel, autosomal recessive syndrome.

Humoral immunodeficiency with facial dysmorphology and limb anomalies: a new syndrome

We report a 6 year old girl with an isolated humoral immune deficiency and a unique combination of dysmorphic features. Physical findings include microcephaly, micrognathia, sickle shaped eyebrows, hypoplastic alae nasi, thenar hypoplasia, partial 4-5 syndactyly of toes, recessed great toes, anterior anus, and hypoplastic labia minora. Radiographic findings include triphalangeal thumbs and hypoplastic first metatarsals. She has postnatal growth retardation and her development is substantially slower than her twin's. Her clinical course has been complicated by recurrent sinopulmonary infections and pneumococcal bacteraemia. Laboratory evaluation revealed hypogammaglobulinaemia, absent B cells, and a 46,XX karyotype. A review of the literature and the London Dysmorphology Database did not produce any recognizable syndromes that match her constellation of findings. She may represent a unique syndrome of unknown etiology.

Antibody deficiency syndromes

Antibodies have a crucial role in protecting against infections, and antibody deficiencies are the commonest primary and secondary immunodeficiencies. Antibody deficiencies may be the only abnormality present in a patient, or they may be present and aggravate the symptoms of various other conditions. Because the presence of an antibody deficiency is difficult to predict from clinical presentation, physicians should perform an evaluation of antibody-mediated immunity, even knowing that, in many cases, the results are normal. When immunizations are included as a part of the evaluation, many patients experience a benefit from enhanced immunity against common pathogens. Some alternative practical approaches to the evaluation of patients with recurrent infections are outlined in Figure 8. Referral to a clinical immunologist can be based on the presence of recurrent infections, a positive family history without prior evaluation by a pediatrician, or abnormal immunologic findings that require an advanced evaluation. In any case, a close collaboration between pediatrician and immunologist likely will result in an accurate diagnosis and better treatment of patients with antibody-deficiency syndromes and their families.

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome with humoral and cellular defects: a case report

The first association of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome with immunodeficiency and the successful prevention of infection with intravenous IgG is reported in a 4 year old boy. This case suggests that immunodeficiency maybe a prominent feature of this syndrome and may predispose these patients to recurrent infections.

Distribution of primary immunodeficiency diseases diagnosed in a pediatric tertiary hospital

BACKGROUND

Advances in immunologic techniques in recent years have led to increased recognition of primary immunodeficiency disorders, with IgA deficiency the most common phenotype reported by most registries. There have also been reports of increased associated incidence of autoimmunity, allergy, and other diseases.

OBJECTIVES

We wished to determine the percentage of different primary immunodeficiency disorders seen in a pediatric tertiary hospital and to determine the association of primary immunodeficiency disorders with other diseases that are not part of classic immunodeficiency disorders.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of the patients referred to our allergy/immunology clinic for immunologic evaluation of recurrent infections during an 8-year period. We also reviewed pathology reports with postmortem diagnosis of immunodeficiencies not identified while patients were alive.

RESULTS

Of the 91 patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders evaluated, the majority had predominantly antibody deficiencies (67%). The most common phenotype was specific antibody deficiency with normal immunoglobulins (23.1%), defined as inability to mount an adequate response to pneumococcal polysaccharides followed by IgG2 subclass deficiency (17.6%). These two phenotypes were diagnosed mostly in the last 2 years of the survey. Associated diseases, found in 40% of patients, were mostly allergic conditions followed by syndromic/chromosomal disorders.

CONCLUSION

The study reveals that specific antibody deficiency with normal immunoglobulins followed by IgG2 subclass deficiency was the most frequently diagnosed primary immunodeficiency disorder in our patient population. It also indicates that immunodeficiency disorders should be considered in patients with other abnormalities like allergic and syndromic/chromosomal disorders that present with recurrent infections.

A Putative Susceptibility Locus on Chromosome 18 Is Not a Major Contributor to Human Selective IgA Deficiency: Evidence from Meiotic Mapping of 83 Multiple-Case Families

Previous reports of an association between constitutional chromosome 18 abnormalities and low levels of IgA suggested that this chromosome contains a susceptibility locus for selective IgA deficiency (IgAD), the most frequent Ig deficiency in humans. IgAD is genetically related to common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), characterized by a lack of additional isotypes. Our previous linkage analysis of 83 multiple-case IgAD/CVID families containing 449 informative pedigree members showed a significantly increased allele sharing in the chromosome region 6p21 consistent with allelic associations in family-based and case-control studies and provided the evidence for a predisposing locus, termed IGAD1, in the proximal part of the MHC. We have typed the same family material at 17 chromosome 18 marker loci with the average intermarker distance of 7 cM. A total of 7633 genotypes were analyzed in a nonparametric linkage analysis, but none of the marker loci exhibited a significantly increased allele sharing in affected family members. In addition, reverse painting and deletion mapping of a panel of constitutional chromosome 18 deletions/translocations showed the presence of IgA-deficient and IgA-proficient patients with the same abnormality and did not reveal a region commonly deleted. The linkage analysis of chromosome 8 and 21 regions involved in reciprocal translocations t(8;18) and t(18;21), which were identified in two patients lacking IgA, did not disclose a significant allele sharing. Although these results do not exclude the presence of a minor predisposing locus on this chromosome, such a putative locus would confer a population risk of developing IgAD/CVID much lower than IGAD1.

Antibody deficiency in Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome

We identified antibody deficiencies in 9 of 13 infection-prone children with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (4p-monosomy). Eight of the immunodeficient children were identified by a questionnaire sent to 190 families with an affected child. Two of the children had common variable immunodeficiency, one had IgA and IgG2 subclass deficiency, three had IgA deficiency, and three had impaired polysaccharide responsiveness. T-cell immunity was normal. The association of antibody defects with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome suggests a regulatory gene within the deleted chromosome region that affects the B cell system.

Thymic alterations in feline GM1 gangliosidosis

GM1 gangliosidosis is an inherited metabolic disease characterized by progressive neurological deterioration with premature death seen in children and numerous animals, including cats. We have observed that thymuses from affected cats greater than seven months of age (GM1 mutant cats) show marked thymic reduction compared to age-matched normal cats. The studies reported here were done to describe alterations in the thymus prior to (less then 90 days of age) and during the development of mild (90 to 210 days of age) to severe (greater than 210 days of age) progressive neurologic disease and to explore the pathogenesis of the thymic abnormality. Although histologic examination of the thymus from GM1 affected cats less than 210 days of age showed no significant differences from age-matched control cats, thymuses from GM1 mutant cats greater than 210 days of age were significantly reduced in size (approximately 3-fold). Histologic sections of lymph nodes, adrenal glands, and spleens from GM1 gangliosidosis-affected cats showed no significant differences. Flow cytometric analyses showed a marked decrease in the percentage of immature CD4+CD8+ thymocytes (p < 0.001) and significantly increased CD4-CD8+ cells (p < 0.01) in GM1 mutant cats greater than 210 days of age when compared to normal age matched cats. Co-labelling with CD4, CD8, and CD5 indicated an increase in the percentage of GM1 mutant cat thymocytes at this age which were CD5high, suggesting the presence of more mature cells. Cytometric analyses of subpopulations of peripheral lymphocytes indicated an increase in CD4-CD8+ cells (p < 0.05) with concurrent decreases in CD4+CD8- and CD4-CD8- cells (which were not significant). Similar analyses of thymocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations from cats < 210 days of age showed no significant differences between GM1 mutant and normal cells. GM1 mutant cats at all ages had increased surface binding of Cholera toxin B on thymocytes, indicating increased surface GM1 ganglioside expression. Increases were highly significant in GM1 mutant cats greater than 210 days of age. In situ labelling for apoptosis was increased in GM1 mutant cats between 90 to 200 days of age when thymic masses were within normal limits. In GM1 mutant cats over 200 days of age, decreased labelling was observed when thymic mass was reduced and the CD4+CD8+ subpopulation, known to be very susceptible to apoptosis, was significantly decreased. These data describe premature thymic involution in feline GM1 gangliosidosis and suggest that increased surface GM1 gangliosides alters thymocyte development in these cats.