Severe combined immunodeficiency
Severe combined immunodeficiency
Updated: 08/07/2024
© Jun Wang, MD, PhD
General features
- Heterogeneous group
- Variable genetic abnormalities
- T-cell defects with associated B-cell dysfunction
- May develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Death may occur within first year of life unless stem cell transplantation
Clinical presentations
- Usually have positive family history
- Presentation shortly after birth
- Severe and often life threatening infections
- Opportunistic infections
- Failure to thrive
- Mucocutaneous candidiasis resistant to treatment
- Autoimmune disorders
Genetic abnormalities and
associated pathogenesis
- X-linked: most common type, mutations of common gamma-chain of interleukin receptors, causing defective lymphocytic proliferative (IL-2), B-cell class switch (IL-4), T-cell selection in thymus (IL-7), and NK-cell development (IL-15)
- Autosomal recessive: mutation of adenosine deaminase, etc, causing accumulation of cytotoxic DNA byproducts (Deoxy-ATP, etc) and subsequent inhibition of lymphocytic proliferation and increased apoptosis
- Recombinase-activating genes: defects of T-cell receptor rearrangement and immunoglobulin formation
- JAK3: common gamma-chain of interleukin receptor
- ZAP70: T cell selection in thymus
Key Laboratory findings
- Lymphocytopenia, especially T cells
- Absence of both mature T and B cells 20% of patients
- B-cell population may be normal or increased in X-linked SCID
- Low immunoglobulin levels, especially IgM
- Low T cell receptor excision circles (TREC)
Key morphological features
- Small or absent thymus
- Underdeveloped lymphoid tissue
- Markedly depleted T-cell and/or underdeveloped B-cell areas
Newborn Screening
- Universal in the States since 2010
- Detect T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs)
- SCID patients have low or no TRECs
- Stem cell transplantation
- Gene therapy
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