Severe combined immunodeficiency signalized by eosinophilia and lymphopenia in rotavirus infected infants.
BACKGROUND
Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a heterogeneous disease consisting of several different subtypes. Most subtypes present during infancy and without treatment, infections usually lead to early death. Diagnosis of SCID can be difficult as new subtypes are expected to be discovered soon. Late diagnosis is associated with a poorer outcome. Infections like rotavirus enteritis cannot be cleared in children with SCID due to impaired immunity. The aim of our study was to identify clues in children with rotavirus enteritis that aid to diagnose SCID early.


METHODS
Total white blood counts in a cohort of SCID patients with persistent rotavirus infection at diagnosis (n=18) were compared to total white blood counts in matched control patients without SCID but with rotavirus infection.


RESULTS
Relative and absolute lymphopenia and eosinophilia were more common in SCID patients (p<0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
In infants with rotavirus infection, a full blood count should be performed: Eosinophilia and/or lymphopenia raise a high suspicion of SCID.
Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf.
U
U
Hennewig
A
A
Schulz
O
O
Adams
W
W
Friedrich
U
U
Göbel
T
T
Niehues
D000367:Age Factors; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016511:Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013997:Time Factors