X-linked agammaglobulinemia
X-linked agammaglobulinemia
Updated: 08/17/2020
© Jun Wang,
MD, PhD
General features
- AKA Bruton's disease
- Impaired B cell differentiation and immunoglobulin production
- X-linked
- Almost exclusively in boys
Clinical presentations
- Recurrent infections, especially encapsulated pyogenic bacteria, such as Streptococcus Pneumoniae
- Commonly pneumonia, otitis media, diarrhea, etc
- Presentations starts 4-6 months after birth
Genetic abnormality
- Bruton tyrosine kinase mutation
Pathogenesis
- B cell development arrest
Key Laboratory findings
- Low levels of Ig after 6 months, IgM and IgA typically undetectable
- Markedly reduced or absent CD19+ B cells in circulation
- Circulating T cells may be increased
Key morphological features
- Underdeveloped or absent lymphoid tissue, such as lymph nodes, tonsils, etc.
- Absent plasma cells
Diagnosis
- Low or absent number of mature B cells
- Low or absent expression of m heavy chain on surface of lymphocytes
- Molecular tests for absence of BTK RNA or protein
Managements
- Immunoglobulin replacement
- Treatments of infections
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