[Immunology in medical practice. XXXV. Screening of suspected immunodeficiency: diagnostic protocols for patients with opportunistic or recurrent severe infections, wasting and failure to thrive]

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2000 Nov 11;144(46):2197-203.
[Article in Dutch]

Abstract

With a multistage laboratory protocol immunodeficiencies can be efficiently identified. The article presents a diagnostic protocol that consists of three schemes. Scheme 1 describes the diagnostic protocol for the large group of patients with recurrent pulmonary and ENT-infections, where an antibody deficiency can occasionally be found. Scheme 2 presents the diagnostic protocol for the much smaller group of patients with opportunistic infections, wasting or failure to thrive. Several of these patients suffer from a severe T-lymphocyte disorder. Early diagnosis and treatment is important for the prognosis in these patients. Scheme 3 shows the diagnostic protocol for patients with recurrent infections of surface areas and deeper organs; these patients may suffer from a phagocyte disorder.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Autoimmune Diseases / diagnosis
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Bacterial Infections / immunology
  • Clinical Protocols
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Failure to Thrive / immunology*
  • Genetic Testing
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / diagnosis*
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / immunology*
  • Infections / diagnosis*
  • Infections / immunology*
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Mycoses / diagnosis
  • Mycoses / immunology
  • Netherlands
  • Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis
  • Opportunistic Infections / immunology
  • Recurrence
  • Virus Diseases / diagnosis
  • Virus Diseases / immunology
  • Wasting Syndrome / immunology*