title: Educational paper: syndromic forms of primary immunodeficiency.
abstract: The syndromic primary immunodeficiencies are disorders in which not only the immune system but also other organ systems are affected. Other features most commonly involve the ectodermal, skeletal, nervous, and gastrointestinal systems. Key in identifying syndromic immunodeficiencies is the awareness that increased susceptibility to infections or immune dysregulation in a patient known to have other symptoms or special features may hint at an underlying genetic syndrome. Because the extraimmune clinical features can be highly variable, it is more difficult establishing the correct diagnosis. Nevertheless, correct diagnosis at an early age is important because of the possible treatment options. Therefore, diagnostic work-up is best performed in a center with extensive expertise in this field, having immunologists and clinical geneticists, as well as adequate support from a specialized laboratory at hand. This paper provides the general pediatrician with the main clinical features that are crucial for the recognition of these syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Genetics, Room Ee2014, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, NL-3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. r.kersseboom@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Rogier
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kersseboom
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Corry
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weemaes
mesh_terms: D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D049914:DNA Repair-Deficiency Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology