Deficiencia de anticuerpos específicos en pacientes pediátricos con infecciones respiratorias recurrentes / Specific antibody deficiency in pediatric patients with recurrent respiratory infections

One of the most frequent consultations in pediatric immunology corresponds to patients with recurrent respiratory infections. The most frequent clinical conditions for what they consult are recurrent viral infections, recurrent acute otitis media, recurrent sinusitis and recurrent pneumonia. Approximately 10% of patients who consult for these conditions may have a specific antibody deficiency. Specific antibody deficiency is a type of primary immunodeficiency, which is classified within the humoral deficit group, where there is a failure in the immune response for polysaccharide antigens with normal immunoglobulin levels. The diagnosis must be made since 2 years old, when the immune system acquires the ability to present a humoral response to polysaccharide antigens. In an undetermined percentage of patients, the specific antibody deficit can be resolved with the maturity of the immune system and there are patients who require prolonged treatment with antibiotic prophylaxis and gamma globulin.

Una de las consultas más frecuentes en inmunología pediátrica corresponde a pacientes con infecciones respiratorias recurrentes. Los cuadros clínicos más frecuentes por lo que consultan son infecciones virales recurrentes, otitis media aguda recurrente, sinusitis recurrente y neumonía recurrente. Aproximadamente el 10% de los pacientes que consultan por estos cuadros puede presentar una deficiencia de anticuerpos específica. La deficiencia anticuerpo específica es un tipo de inmunodeficiencia primaria, que se clasifica dentro del grupo de déficit humorales, en donde existe una falla en la respuesta inmune para antígenos polisacáridos con niveles de inmunoglobulinas normales. El diagnóstico se debe realizar después de los 2 años que es cuando el sistema inmune adquiere la capacidad de presentar respuesta humoral a antígenos polisacáridos. En un porcentaje no determinado de pacientes, el déficit de anticuerpos específicos se puede resolver con la madurez del sistema inmunológico y existen pacientes que requieren tratamiento prolongado con profilaxis antibiótica y gamaglobulina.

Primary and Secondary Immunodeficiency Diseases in Oncohaematology: Warning Signs, Diagnosis, and Management.

Background: Immunodeficiencies (ID), in particular primary immunodeficiencies (PID), are often associated with haematological manifestations, such as peripheral cytopenias or lymphoproliferative syndromes. Early diagnosis and management have significant prognostic implications. Secondary immunodeficiencies (SID) may also be induced by oncohaematological diseases and their treatments. Haematologists and oncologists must therefore be aware of the association between blood disorders and cancer and ID, and be prepared to offer their patients appropriate treatment without delay. Our aim was to define the warning signs of primary and secondary IDs in paediatric and adult patients with oncohaematological manifestations. Methods: A multidisciplinary group of six experts (2 haematologists, 2 immunologists, and 2 paediatricians specializing in ID) conducted a literature review and prepared a document based on agreements reached an in-person meeting. An external group of 44 IDs specialists from all over Spain assessed the document and were consulted regarding their level of agreement. Results: This document identifies the haematological and extra-haematological diseases that should prompt a suspicion of PIDs in adults and children, in both primary care and haematology and oncology departments. Cytopenia and certain lymphoproliferative disorders are key diagnostic pointers. The diagnosis must be based on a detailed clinical history, physical exploration, complete blood count and standard laboratory tests. The immunological and haematological tests included in the diagnostic process will depend on the care level. Patients who are candidates for immunoglobulin replacement therapy must be carefully selected, and treatment should be offered as soon as possible to avoid the development of complications. Finally, this document recommends procedures for monitoring these patients. Conclusions: This document combines scientific evidence with the opinion of a broad panel of experts, and emphasizes the importance of an early diagnosis and treatment to avoid complications. The resulting document is a useful tool for primary care physicians and specialists who see both adult and paediatric patients with oncohaematological diseases.

Primary immunodeficiency diseases in lung disease: warning signs, diagnosis and management.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications are common in primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) and contribute to morbidity and mortality in these patients. However, their varied presentation and a general lack of awareness of PID in this setting make early diagnosis and treatment difficult. The aim of this study was to define the warning signs of PID in patients with respiratory manifestations, the necessary diagnostic tests, and the therapeutic management of both children and adults. METHODS: A review of the literature was performed, and 43 PID interdisciplinary specialists were consulted. RESULTS: This document identifies the pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations that should prompt a suspicion of PID, the immunological and respiratory tests that should be included in the diagnostic process according to the level of care, recommendations regarding the use of immunoglobulin replacement therapy according to the specific immunodeficiency, and the minimum recommended immunological and pulmonary monitoring in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: This document is the first to combine scientific evidence with the opinion of a broad panel of experts specializing in the treatment of patients with immunodeficiencies. It aims to provide a useful tool for all practitioners who are regularly involved in the management of these patients.

Primary immunodeficiency association with systemic lupus erythematosus: review of literature and lessons learned by the Rheumatology Division of a tertiary university hospital at São Paulo, Brazil.

Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PID) represent a heterogeneous group of diseases resulting from inherited defects in the development, maturation and normal function of immune cells; thus, turning individuals susceptible to recurrent infections, allergy, autoimmunity, and malignancies. In this retrospective study, autoimmune diseases (AIDs), in special systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) which arose associated to the course of PID, are described. Classically, the literature describes three groups of PID associated with SLE: (1) deficiency of Complement pathway components, (2) defects in immunoglobulin synthesis, and (3) chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Currently, other PID have been described with clinical manifestation of SLE, such as Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS), autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) and idiopathic CD4(+) lymphocytopenia. Also we present findings from an adult cohort from the outpatient clinic of the Rheumatology Division of Universidade Federal de São Paulo. The PID manifestations found by our study group were considered mild in terms of severity of infections and mortality in early life. Thus, it is possible that some immunodeficiency states are compatible with survival regarding infectious susceptibility; however these states might represent a strong predisposing factor for the development of immune disorders like those observed in SLE.

Associação de imunodeficiência primária com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico: revisão da literatura e as lições aprendidas pela Divisão de Reumatologia de um hospital universitário terciário em São Paulo / Primary immunodeficiency association with systemic lupus erythematosus: review of literature and lessons learned by the Rheumatology Division of a tertiary university hospital at São Paulo, Brazil

Resumo As imunodeficiências primárias (IDP) representam um grupo heterogêneo de doenças resultantes de defeitos hereditários no desenvolvimento, na maturação e na função normal de células do sistema imunológico; assim, tornam os indivíduos suscetíveis a infecções recorrentes, alergia, autoimunidade e doenças malignas. Neste estudo retrospectivo descrevem-se doenças autoimunes (DAI), em especial o lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES), que surgiram associadas ao curso das IDP. Classicamente, a literatura descreve três grupos de IDP associadas ao LES: (1) deficiência de componentes da via do complemento, (2) defeitos na síntese de imunoglobulinas e (3) doença granulomatosa crônica (DGC). Na atualidade, outras IDP têm sido descritas como manifestações clínicas do LES, como a síndrome de Wiskott-Aldrich (WAS), a poliendocrinopatia autoimune-candidíase-distrofia ectodérmica (APECED), a síndrome linfoproliferativa autoimune (ALPS) e a linfocitopenia idiopática CD4+. Também são apresentados achados de uma coorte de adultos do ambulatório da Divisão de Reumatologia da Universidade Federal de São Paulo. As manifestações de IDP encontradas pelo nosso grupo de estudo foram consideradas leves em termos de gravidade de infecções e mortalidade no início da vida. Assim, é possível que alguns estados de imunodeficiência sejam compatíveis com a sobrevivência em relação à suscetibilidade infecciosa; no entanto, esses estados podem representar um fator de predisposição forte para o desenvolvimento de doenças imunológicas, como observado no LES.

Abstract Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PID) represent a heterogeneous group of diseases resulting from inherited defects in the development, maturation and normal function of immune cells; thus, turning individuals susceptible to recurrent infections, allergy, autoimmunity, and malignancies. In this retrospective study, autoimmune diseases (AIDs), in special systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) which arose associated to the course of PID, are described. Classically, the literature describes three groups of PID associated with SLE: (1) deficiency of Complement pathway components, (2) defects in immunoglobulin synthesis, and (3) chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Currently, other PID have been described with clinical manifestation of SLE, such as Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome (WAS), autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) and idiopathic CD4+ lymphocytopenia. Also we present findings from an adult cohort from the outpatient clinic of the Rheumatology Division of Universidade Federal de São Paulo. The PID manifestations found by our study group were considered mild in terms of severity of infections and mortality in early life. Thus, it is possible that some immunodeficiency states are compatible with survival regarding infectious susceptibility; however these states might represent a strong predisposing factor for the development of immune disorders like those observed in SLE.