Benefit assessment of preventive medical check-ups in patients suffering from chronic granulomatous disease (CGD).
BACKGROUND
Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) patients are susceptible to recurrent opportunistic infections and to recurrent or chronic inflammations of presumably non-infectious origin. Both types of manifestations are often accompanied by granuloma formation. Both can remain unnoticed until they deteriorate considerably and can become life-threatening if not treated in time.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of regular follow-up visits in CGD patients.


METHODS
Findings of imaging (ultrasound, radiographs, computer-tomography, magnetic resonance imaging), lung function tests, histopathological and microbiological assessments of biopsies have been reviewed.


RESULTS
A total of 32 CGD patients have been evaluated within 15 years. Of these eight patients have been checked regularly for more than 5 years. Early detection prior to specific clinical signs and consecutive treatment of six lung manifestations and one liver manifestation such as interstitial pneumonia with formation of small granulomas, formation of large granulomas, fibrosis, Aspergillus infections, and abscesses could presumably prevent considerable aggravation in seemingly healthy or mildly symptomatic patients. In contrast, patients without surveillance who presented with severe symptoms (seven manifestations) often had irreversible organ damage or even died.


CONCLUSIONS
Regular follow-up visits can help prevent or mitigate clinical manifestations, improve life quality and expectancy and weigh indication for bone marrow transplantation in CGD patients.
Roesler
Joachim
J
Department of Pediatrics, University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Germany. roeslerj@rcs.urz.tu-dresden.de
Koch
Anne
A
Pörksen
Gönke
G
von Bernuth
Horst
H
Brenner
Sebastian
S
Hahn
Gabriele
G
Fischer
Rainer
R
Lorenz
Norbert
N
Gahr
Manfred
M
Rösen-Wolff
Angela
A
D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006105:Granulomatous Disease, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011322:Primary Prevention