Clinical and therapeutic value of the adjusted Global Antiphospholipid Syndrome Score in primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To assess the clinical utility of the adjusted global antiphospholipid syndrome score (aGAPSS) to predict new obstetric events during follow-up in primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (POAPS) patients under standard-of-care treatment (SC) based on the use of low-dose aspirin (LDA) + heparin and (2) to study the risk of a first thrombotic event and to evaluate whether stratification according to this score could help to identify POAPS patients who would benefit from long-term thromboprophylaxis. METHODS: This is a retrospective, multicentre study. 169 women with POAPS were evaluated for the presence of a new obstetric event and/or a first thrombotic event during follow-up [time period: 2008-2020, median: 7 years (6-12 years)]. The outcomes of 107 pregnancies from these POAPS patients with SC were studied to evaluate relapses. Simple and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Regarding obstetric morbidity, only triple positivity for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) [OR = 8.462 (95% CI: 2.732-26.210); p < 0.0001] was found to be a strong risk factor independently associated with treatment failure. On the other hand, triple positivity for aPLs [OR=10.44 (95% CI: 2.161-50.469), p = 0.004] and an aGAPSS ≥7 [OR = 1.621 (95% CI: 1.198-2.193), p = 0.002] were independent risk factors associated with a first thrombotic event. LDA was marginally associated with a decrease in the risk of thrombosis only in patients with aGAPSS ≥ 7 (p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: aGAPSS appears to be useful in predicting the occurrence of a first thrombotic event in POAPS patients, and these stratification of patients could be helpful in selecting patients who would benefit from thromboprophylaxis with LDA.

[Late diagnosis of WHIM sydrome]. / Diagnóstico tardío de síndrome WHIM.

WHIM syndrome is a primary autosomal dominant immuno deficiency due to CXCR4 mutations characterized by mucocutaneous warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, recurrent bacterial infections and myelokathesis. Treatment consists in prophylactic antibiotics, immunoglobulin replacement and granulocyte or granulocyte/monocyte colony stimulating factors. We present the case of a 21 year old woman who showed leukopenia at 10 months of age and one year later multiple infections with hypogammaglobulinemia requiring intravenous immunoglobulin. During follow up she developed chronic neutropenia. A bone marrow aspiration showed increased myeloid series with predominance of immature elements. On the basis of infections, low levels of IgG, IgA, IgM and lymphopenia with absent memory B cells, a diagnosis of common variable immunodeficiency was made. She started intravenous immunoglobulin replacement and prophylactic antibiotics. At age 20, small warts in hands that progressed to forearms, knees, abdomen and face were recorded. CXCR4 gene sequencing was done detecting a heterozygous p.Arg334STOP mutation, confirming WHIM syndrome. This disease is infrequent and difficult to diagnose.

[Anaphylaxis and allergic reactions during surgery and medical procedures]. / Anafilaxias y reacciones alérgicas durante cirugías y procedimientos médicos.

Anaphylaxis during anesthesia is an unpredictable, severe, and rare reaction. It has an incidence of 1/10 000 to 1/20 000 surgeries. In most series, the responsible drugs include neuromuscular blocking agents, latex, or antibiotics. The frequency and etiology of systemic allergic reactions in other medical procedures are largely unknown. The identification of responsible drugs of anaphylaxis is a complex task, requiring testing of all medications and substances used during surgery. We describe our experience in a retrospective study of 15 patients. Ten subjects developed anaphylaxis during surgery, two in endoscopic studies and one in a trans-vaginal ultrasound. The remaining two subjects, one in a trans-vaginal ultrasound and another during a dental procedure had a systemic allergic reaction. We studied all patients with all medications administered during the procedures, including latex and detergents and disinfectants. Three surgeries had to be suspended at induction of anesthesia, five were stopped incomplete and two were completed. Both patients that presented a reaction during endoscopy required intensive care unit admission and the rest were observed in a Hospital. The responsible drugs during surgery anaphylaxis were neuromuscular blocking agents, latex, patent blue, and ranitidine. Ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA) was identified during endoscopic studies; latex was responsible in transvaginal ultrasounds; and amoxicillin in the dental procedure. The aim of the present article is to review our experience studying allergic systemic reactions and anaphylaxis during general anesthesia and medical procedures, emphasizing the severity of these reactions and the need for causative drug identification.

[Allergy to drugs. Experience in 771 procedures]. / Alergia a drogas. Experiencia en 771 procedimientos.

Drug hypersensitivity reactions (RHD) are those that present clinically as allergic. They can or cannot involve an immunologic mechanism of lesion. They are frequent and, occasionally, life threatening. Patients with RHD repeat the reaction when they are re-exposed to the drug, limiting the therapeutic options and exposing them to more expensive and toxic drugs. It is difficult to identify the responsible drug when the reaction was not recent or when it occurred in the context of therapy with multiple drugs or confusing concurrent diseases. The diagnosis should be based on clinical history, followed by drug skin tests and drug provocation tests. We describe our experience in 771 procedures, 331 cutaneous and 440 drug provocation tests, 11% of them were positive. Positive symptoms included generalized pruritus, rash, urticaria, angioedema, rhinitis, bronchospasm, nausea and anaphylaxis. All the patients with positive tests had a good response to treatment. It can therefore be concluded that drug tests undertaken on individuals with suspected drug allergy, performed by experienced personnel and in controlled settings, are useful and safe to confirm drug hypersensitivity.

[Relapses in inflammatory myopathies]. / Miopatías inflamatorias con evolución recidivante.

Most studies about treatment of inflammatory myopathies consist of cross-sectional analyses that do not assess long-term efficacy. In the present study we describe the follow-up of seven patients with inflammatory myopathies, 5 polymyositis and 2 dermatomyositis. We describe their clinical features, follow-up, muscle enzyme levels, and treatment responses. We define the latter as treatment cycles, every one of which end when steroid doses need to be increased or a new immunosuppressive drug has to be added because of clinical worsening or sustained increases in muscle enzyme levels. Treatment can cause remission, partially control, or fail in achieving myositis improvement when it normalizes, stabilizes, or does not affect muscle enzymes or clinical features, respectively. We analyzed 20 cycles, in which remission was achieved in 14 cases, partial control in 5 instances, and treatment failure in one case. Remission occurred after an average of 139 ± 98 days, whereas partial control took place in 160 ± 100 days. Except in one case, all treatment cycles controlled or remitted the symptoms. However, in all patients the illness recurred with time.

[X-linked agammaglobulinemia in adults. Clinical evolution]. / Agammaglobulinemia ligada al cromosoma X en adultos. Evolución clínica.

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is characterized by absent or severely reduced B cells, low or undetectable immunoglobulin levels and clinically by extracellular bacterial infections which mainly compromise the respiratory tract as well as recurrent diarrheas. The mainstay of treatment is gammaglobulin replacement therapy, which allows most patients to reach adulthood with high quality of life. We analyzed the clinical features of 14 patients over 18 years of age with XLA diagnosis that received treatment in our unit from the year 2003, the date the first patient was derived, until 2015. The average age at which patients were referred was 20.4 years old; age at the last consult was 25.5. The average follow-up time was 59.8 months. Previously to being diagnosed all patients had suffered infections, most frequently respiratory. After diagnosis all were started on intravenous gammaglobulin replacement treatment and in spite of infections being reduced in severity and frequency, there were cases of severe disease with long term sequelae. At the beginning of our follow-up 35.7% presented impaired respiratory function with only one case being severe. In no cases during this period did the respiratory function worsen, nor were there severe clinical complications. Three patients were switched to subcutaneous immunoglobulin treatment with good tolerance. The number of XLA cases is increasing, as most reach the second decade of life without serious complications and remain free of severe infectious disease and further impairment of their respiratory functions with the treatment.

[Rituximab and hypogammaglobulinemia]. / Rituximab e hipogammaglobulinemia.

Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody against CD20, induces the depletion of B lymphocytes. It is used for the treatment of lymphoproliferative and autoimmune diseases. Antibody immunodeficiency associated to RTX treatment is a new motif for consultation to our service. We decided to study those patients that having been treated with RTX, consulted for hypogammaglobulinemia or recurrent infections between November 2010 and December 2014. We evaluated eight patients, seven female and one male. The average follow up time was 19.3±18.8 months, range 1 to 54, median 13. Three had a normal electrophoretic proteinogram before receiving RTX, three had hypogammaglobulinemia and in two data was not available. None of them had a quantitative determination of immunoglobulins before receiving RTX. Four received RTX as a treatment of non Hodking lymphoma, two as a treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, one for immune thrombocytopenic purpura and other for microscopic polyangiitis. Six were diagnosed with hypogammaglobulinemia and one with combined IgM, IgA and IgG2 deficiency. Five presented infections, four of them with good response to intravenous immunoglobulin. RTX related antibody deficiency consultations are increasing. It is important to determine the immunoglobulin levels previously to RTX use in order to establish an etiologic relationship with RTX and a quick diagnosis of antibody deficiency. The substitutive treatment with gammaglobulin seems to be useful in patients with severe or recurrent infections.

[Hereditary angioedema. Treatment of acute attacks in Argentina]. / Angioedema hereditario. Tratamiento del ataque agudo en la Argentina.

In the world, hereditary angioedema (HAE) affects 1 every 50000 persons. It is characterized by highly disabling and recurrent episodes of cutaneous, abdominal and laryngeal episodes of angioedema. Asphyxia related mortality ranges from 15 to 50%. In Argentina a plasma derived C1 inhibitor concentrate (pdC1INH) has been available for the treatment of acute attacks for many decades, however, only15 (26%) out of 58 patients had received pdC1INH at least once until 2008, and only2 (3.4%) had used it regularly. After worldwide approval of the new drugs for the treatment of acute HAE attacks, adding icatibant to pdC1INH in Argentina, and after publication of the therapeutic guide for the country, 42 (82%) out of 51 patients from the original group has pdC1INH available to treat their next attack. However, 16 (18%) patients continue without access to medication and other 15 (35.7%) obtain their therapy spuriously through some other affected relative in their environment. Only 12 (28.6%) patients of the group self-treated at home. Access to treatment has greatly improved, but needs to be extended to all patients and self-treatment at home should be encouraged.

[Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis. Clinical aspects and treatment]. / Vasculitis asociadas a anticuerpos anti-citoplasma de neutrófilos. Clínica y tratamiento.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis, comprise a group of diseases characterized by inflammation of the wall of small vessels. We analyzed epidemiological and clinical characteristics in a series of 47 patients, 23 (49%) with Wegener granulomatosis (WG), 15 (32%) with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and nine (19%) with renal limited vasculitis (RLV). The mean age at onset of symptoms was 50.7 ± 14.9 years. The most frequent clinical manifestation was renal involvement in 41 (87%), followed by pulmonary manifestations in 26 (55%) and ENT involvement in 17 (36%). In 26 (55%) it presented with simultaneous pulmonary and renal involvement. The most frequent clinical category was the generalized form in 23 (49%), followed by the severe form in 18 (38%). Eighty nine percent of patients had positive ANCA test. Four (8%) received no immunosuppressive treatment. Of the 43 patients who were treated, 29 (67%) achieved complete remission with an average length of remission of 35.3 months. Eleven (26%) had a relapse, ten (91%) had a major relapse and one had a minor relapse. Twelve (28%) patients died, seven died early and five late during the course of the disease. Fifteen (31%) progressed to chronic renal failure. All 26 patients in follow-up had response to treatment and 20 (77%) were in remission at the end of the study. Despite the improvements achieved with immunosuppressive treatments, morbidity and mortality rates in ANCA-associated vasculitis remain high.

[Adverse events in 1395 infusions with different intravenous gammaglobulin products]. / Eventos adversos en 1395 infusiones con diferentes preparados de gammaglobulina intravenosa.

The processes of isolation and sterilization of intravenous gamma globulin (IVIG) affect the end product characteristics and, therefore, its tolerability. Different products have different incidences of adverse reactions. The aim of this study was to quantify the immediate adverse events (AE) caused by the different IVIG preparations. We analyzed 1 395 infusions in 28 patients, with a median of 32.5 per subject (range 2-214), using six different IVIG preparations, with an average dose 40.3 ± 8.3 g. One thousand and thirty-one infusions were analyzed retrospectively and 364 prospectively. Patients used a mean of 2.68 ± 1.8 different IVIGs, with a median of 2 (range 1-6) per person. The number of trademarks used was related to the number of infusions received, r = 0.73. AE presented in 24 (2.3%) of 1 031 infusions retrospectively analyzed, affecting 11 of 23 patients enrolled, with a mean of 2.18 ± 1.08 AE per subject. Of 24 patients and 364 infusions prospectively analyzed, AE were observed in 14 patients and in 32 (7.2%) procedures. Twenty-four (42.9%) of 56 AE were mild, 31 (55.5%) moderate and one (1.8%) severe. The infusion rate was 9.04 ± 6 g/h for those presenting AE vs. 10.6 ± 4.6 g/h for those who did not (p = 0.31, NS). The incidence, severity and proportion of patients with AE for each brand of IVIG were very different from each other. This information should be taken into account when selecting the IVIG to be used.

[Common variable immunodeficiency. Epidemiology and clinical manifestations in 69 patients]. / Inmunodeficiencia común variable. Epidemiología y manifestaciones clínicas en 69 pacientes.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is characterized by an impaired antibody production and an increased susceptibility to recurrent infections of the respiratory tract, mainly by extracellular encapsulated bacteria. We analyzed the clinical characteristics of 69 patients evaluated over a period of 10 years at three centers in the city of Buenos Aires. At the onset of the study 14 patients were on follow up, and at its end the number of patients reached to 60. Most of them consulted for infection or hypogammaglobulinemia and nearly half had an established diagnosis of immunodeficiency. Sixty-five (94.2%) patients had infections by encapsulated bacteria, four (6.1%) sepsis and two tuberculosis. The average age of onset of infectious symptoms was 18.1 years; the average age at diagnosis was 29.6 years and the delay to diagnosis 11.9 years. Forty one (59.4%) patients reported a history of recurrent or chronic diarrhea. In 22 (31.9%) 13 autoimmune diseases were diagnosed, being the most frequent the hematological disorders and hypothyroidism. Eight patients had histological polyclonal lymphoproliferation, four (5.8%) with granulomatous disease affecting the liver, the larynx and/or the skin; and four as lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis (LIP). Nineteen (27.5%) patients had splenomegaly and 23/57 (40.3%) images suggestive of lymphocytic or granulomatous processes (including the 4 with LIP) in the chest CT. Three (4.3%) patients developed B cell lymphoma, four (5.8%) stomach adenocarcinoma and one breast cancer. The study had a median follow-up of 54 months, range 1-353 and four patients (5.8%) died during the follow up.

REMISSION OF HEREDITARY ANGIOEDEMA ATTACKS ASSOCIATED WITH STARTING TERIFLUNOMIDE IN A PATIENT WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

Background: Hereditary angioedema is a rare hereditary and potentially life-threatening disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of cutaneous and submucosal swelling. In spite of the advances made in terms of pathophysiology, underlying mechanisms are not fully clear and this, in turn, hinders the development of effective therapies. Currently, on demand treatment is considered first-class, with few cost-effective, long-term prophylactic options. Case presentation: Here we describe the case of a 34-year-old man diagnosed with hereditary angioedema at the age of 10, who used to suffer several angioedema attacks per month. He was given prophylactic treatment with antifibrinolytic agents and androgens without improvement. Moreover, he was treated with plasma-derived C1-INH concentrate or icatibant for on-demand treatment of moderate and severe angioedema attacks. At the age of 33, after suffering sudden vision loss and lower limb paresthesia, he was studied and diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Teriflunomide was administered at a dosage of 14 mg/day. Angioedema attacks disappeared 40 days after starting treatment. Conclusion: Thus, we suggest considering the pathophysiologic mechanisms on which teriflunomide could be active and consider this drug carefully as an option for prophylaxis purposes. Yet, its effectiveness on this condition should be further studied. LEARNING POINTS: Underlying mechanisms in hereditary angioedema lack clarity and hence hinder the development of effective therapies.On-demand treatment of hereditary angioedema is considered first class, with few cost-effective, long-term prophylactic options.The mechanisms of action and effectiveness of teriflunomide on hereditary angioedema should be studied further.

[Hereditary angioedema. A therapeutic guide]. / Angioedema hereditario. Guía de tratamiento.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare autosomal dominant disease, characterized by episodes of edema involving the skin, gastrointestinal tract and larynx. HAE has a historical asphyxia mortality of 15% to 50%. It is the consequence of functional C1 inhibitor deficiency. The identification of bradykinin as the principal mediator of the disease has lead to the development of new drugs for its treatment. HAE management and treatment are agreed by international consensus decision. A therapeutic guide for the treatment of the disease is important to improve diagnosis and treatment. We here describe the pharmacology of drugs available for the treatment of HAE in Argentina: plasma derived C1 Inhibitor, the bradykinin antagonist: icatibant, the attenuated androgen danazol and the anti-fibrinolytic agents epsilonaminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid. Furthermore, we describe drug use and adverse effects control, as well as the last international consensus document recommendations applicable to Argentina to conform a first guide to HAE treatment in our country.

[Systemic treatment of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid]. / Tratamiento sistémico del penfigoide cicatrizal ocular.

Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) is a blistering autoimmune disease that can produce severe conjunctival damage. Its response to immunosuppressive treatment is poorly known. We describe a group of 76 patients, 62 women and 14 men. Mean age at diagnosis was 67±14 years old, with a delay to diagnosis of 7.5±10 years. Sixty patients continued their follow up in our services for 19±21 months. Nineteen out of 51 had mild disease, 19 moderate, 5 severe and 8 very severe at onset of treatment. The more frequently prescribed drugs were dapsone, in 35 (23 discontinued it because of adverse effects), and methotrexate in 42 patients, nine of them stopped it. Other patients received azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and ciclosporine. Seventeen received oral steroids in addition to immunosuppressive drugs. Four patients combined two immunosuppressive drugs to control their disease. In three refractory cases IV immunoglobulin (Ig) was administered with good response. From 48 evaluated patients, 39 improved with treatment, eight remained stable and one progressed. In our experience, methotrexate and azathioprine were effective drugs, with low toxicity. Dapsone was useful in mild cases, with frequent adverse effects. IVIg was effective for refractory cases.

[Antibody deficiencies in adults. Forty years of follow up]. / Inmunodeficiencias humorales en pacientes adultos. Cuatro décadas de seguimiento.

Antibody deficiencies (AD) are characterized by low or absent immunoglobulin levels or the inability to develop a specific antibody response. They are classified in primary (PAD) when there is an intrinsic immune defect, or secondary (SAD) to other diseases or drugs. The aim of our study was to review the evolutio n of AD assisted at the Immunology Unit, Hospital Durand between 1982 and 2020, divided into two periods: Period I (1982-2009) and Period II (2010-2020); to evaluate their growth, epidemiologic features and treatment options. A total of 205 patients were identified, 176 (85.8%) with PAD and 29 (14.2%) with SAD. The most frequent PAD were common variable immunodeficiency in 104 (59%) patients, X linked agammaglobulinemia in 17 (9.6%) and selective IgA deficiency in 26 (14.8%). Genetic defects were found in 25 (14.2%) patients with PAD. SAD cases were associated with rituximab in 21 (72.4%) subjects, haematological disease in three (10.2%) and with antiepileptic drugs in other three; 161 (78.5%) patients were treated with immunoglobulins, 140 (87%) PAD y 21 (13%) SAD; 152 (94.4%) received intravenous immunoglobulins and nine (5.6%) subcutaneous immunoglobulins. Thirty (19.7%) patients treated at first with intravenous immunoglobulins changed to subcutaneous formulations. The increase in number of patients between both periods was greater than 250%, and more than 700% in patients added per year. SAD growth was greater than twice times comparing with PAD. By the end of the study 125 patients continued in follow up, 80% PAD y 20% SAD and 14 died.

Las inmunodeficiencias humorales (IDH) comprenden un grupo de enfermedades caracterizadas por una deficiente respuesta mediada por anticuerpos. Se clasifican en primarias (IDHP), causadas por defectos propios del sistema inmune, o secundarias (IDHS) a otras enfermedades o fármacos. Nuestro objetivo fue revisar la evolución de las IDH asistidas en la Unidad Inmunología del Hospital Durand entre 1982 y 2020, dividido en dos periodos, Periodo I (1982-2009) y Periodo II (2010-2020); para evaluar el crecimiento de éstas, sus características epidemiológicas y las formas de tratamiento. Se evaluaron 205 pacientes, 176 (85.8%) IDHP y 29 (14.2%) IDHS. Las IDHP más diagnosticadas fueron: inmunodeficiencia común variable en 104 (59%) pacientes, agammaglobulinemia ligada al cromosoma X en 17 (9.6%) y deficiencia selectiva de IgA en 26 (14.8%). En 25 (14.2%) IDHP se realizó un diagnóstico molecular. Las causas de IDHS fueron: secundaria a rituximab en 21 (72.4%) pacientes, enfermedades hematológicas en tres (10.2%) y fármacos antiepilépticos en tres. Un total de 161 (78.5%) pacientes recibieron gammaglobulina, 140 (87%) IDHP y 21 (13%) IDHS; 152 (94.4%) fueron tratados con gammaglobulina endovenosa y nueve (5.6%) con gammaglobulina subcutánea. De los tratados inicialmente con forma endovenosa, 30 (19.7%) cambiaron a subcutánea. El crecimiento en la cantidad de pacientes entre ambos periodos del estudio fue mayor al 250%, y al 700% en pacientes incorporados por año. El crecimiento de las IDHS con relación al de las IDHP fue más del doble. Al finalizar el estudio 125 pacientes continuaban en seguimiento, 80% IDHP y 20% IDHS, y 14 fallecieron.

[Antibody deficiencies. A survey from three Clinical Immunology Centers for adults in Buenos Aires city]. / Inmunodeficiencias humorales. Un estudio en tres Centros de Inmunología Clínica de adultos en la ciudad de Buenos Aires.

Antibody deficiency (AD) comprises a group of diseases characterized by the inability to develop an effective antibody mediated immune response. These patients suffer mainly of encapsulated extracellular bacterial infections of the respiratory tract. The aim of our study was to describe the clinical characteristics of 128 patients with suspected or confirmed AD who were referred to 3 immunodeficiency centers for adults, from June 2004 to December 2009. Three of these patients (2.3%) consulted for recurrent infections only once, without sufficient data for a proper classification, and were excluded. Of the remaining 125 patients, in 21 (16.8%) AD was excluded, 8 cases (6.4%) were diagnosed with secondary antibody immunodeficiency (SAD) and 96 (76.8%) with primary antibody immunodeficiency (PAD). SAD causes were: one renal failure, one phenytoin use, two monoclonal gammopathy and four B cell lymphoma. The causes of these 96 PAD were: 57 common variable immunodeficiency, 12 X-linked agammaglobulinaemia, 10 selective IgA deficiency, seven IgG1 deficiency, three hyper-IgM syndrome, three IgM deficiency, two X-linked proliferative syndrome, one Good syndrome and one antibody functional deficiency. Sixty-seven patients were in follow up at the time of completion of the study, 25 of them were on follow up at the beginning of the study. Among the 58 patients with indication of gamma globulin replacement therapy, 54 were in treatment at the end of the study. In four patients the initial diagnosis of PAD was not confirmed.

Hereditary angioedema. Diagnosis in an asymptomatic elderly woman.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disease with an autosomal dominant heredity pattern, due to mutations in the gene encoding the C1 esterase inhibitor. The onset of symptoms usually occurs during childhood. Clinically, it is characterized by repeated episodes of angioedema that may affect the skin, abdomen and larynx/pharynx. The occurrence of attacks and their severity are unpredictable and can be fatal without the appropriate treatment. We present the case of an asymptomatic 65-year-old woman, with a history of three adult children diagnosed with HAE. Despite the high probabilities of being a carrier of the mutation, she had not been previously studied. Diagnosis of HAE in a family member would require screening of all at-risk relatives. Early diagnosis is essential to establish a correct and timely therapeutic strategy in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease.

El angioedema hereditario (HAE) es una enfermedad rara, con un patrón de herencia autosómico dominante, debida a mutaciones en el gen que codifica el inhibidor de la C1 esterasa. El inicio de los síntomas suele ocurrir durante la infancia. Clínicamente se caracteriza por episodios recurrentes de angioedema que pueden afectar la piel, el abdomen y la laringe/faringe. La ocurrencia de los ataques y su gravedad son imprevisibles, y puede resultar fatal sin el tratamiento apropiado. Presentamos el caso de una mujer de 65 años de edad, asintomática, con antecedente de tres hijos adultos con diagnóstico de HAE, quién pese a la alta probabilidad de ser portadora de la mutación, no había sido estudiada previamente. El diagnóstico de HAE en un integrante de la familia obligaría a realizar estudios de cribado en todos los familiares en riesgo. El diagnóstico temprano resulta fundamental para establecer una estrategia terapéutica correcta y oportuna, disminuyendo así la morbimortalidad asociada a la enfermedad.

[COVID-19 in adults with antibody deficiencies]. / COVID-19 en adultos con inmunodeficiencias humorales.

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, emerged in late 2019 in Wuhan, China. Its clinical course is variable, as well as the mortality rate, which is higher among people over 65 years of age and persons with underlying conditions. Immunodeficiencies are potential risk factors for severe forms of COVID-19. Furthermore, patients with immunodeficiencies often undergo non-infectious complications, which could bear additional risk. So far, few reports of patients with COVID-19 and humoral immunodeficiencies have been published. Considering the importance of the study of this new viral disease and its potential health impact on patients with immunodeficiency disorders, we present six cases of COVID-19 in patients with impaired humoral immunity. Three were women and three were men. The average age was 48.5 years (range 20-67). Four had been diagnosed with primary antibody deficiency: three had common variable immunodeficiency and one had X-linked agammaglobulinemia. The other two patients had secondary hypogammaglobulinemia, one was associated with thymoma (Good's syndrome), and the other was associated with rituximab treatment. The evolution was favorable in all except the patient with Good's syndrome, who presented a marked decline in clinical status before contracting COVID-19.

La enfermedad COVID-19, causada por el virus SARS-CoV-2, surgió a fines de 2019 en Wuhan, China. La evolución clínica es variable, así como la tasa de mortalidad, que es mayor en pacientes mayores de 65 años y en quienes padecen enfermedades subyacentes. Las inmunodeficiencias son potenciales factores de riesgo para formas graves de COVID-19. Los pacientes con inmunodeficiencias tienen además mayor frecuencia de complicaciones no infecciosas, que podrían representar un riesgo adicional. Hasta el momento existen escasas publicaciones sobre asociación COVID-19 e inmunodeficiencias humorales. Considerando la importancia del estudio de esta nueva enfermedad viral y de su potencial repercusión en la salud de los pacientes con inmunodeficiencias presentamos seis casos de COVID-19 en adultos con déficit de anticuerpos (tres mujeres y tres varones, edad promedio 48.5 años, rango 20-67). Cuatro tenían inmunodeficiencias primarias: inmunodeficiencia común variable (n: 3) y agammaglobulinemia ligada al cromosoma X (n: 1). Los otro dos tenían hipogammaglobulinemia secundaria, en un caso asociada a timoma (síndrome de Good), y en el otro a tratamiento con rituximab. La evolución fue favorable en todos menos en el paciente con síndrome de Good, quien presentaba un marcado deterioro del estado general antes de contraer COVID-19.