title: [Interdisciplinary AWMF guideline for the diagnostics of primary immunodeficiency].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary immunodeficiencies are potentially life-threatening diseases. Over the last years, the clinical phenotype and the molecular basis of an increasing number of immunological defects have been characterized. However, in daily practice primary immunodeficiencies are still often diagnosed too late. Considering that an early diagnosis may reduce morbidity and mortality of affected patients, an interdisciplinary guideline for the diagnosis of primary immunodeficiencies was developed on behalf of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Pädiatrische Immunologie (API) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Immunologie (DGfI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The guideline is based on expert opinion and on knowledge from other guidelines and recommendations from Germany and other countries, supplemented by data from studies that support the postulated key messages (level of evidence III). With the contribution of 20 representatives, belonging to 14 different medical societies and associations, a consensus-based guideline with a representative group of developers and a structured consensus process was created (S2k). Under the moderation of a representative of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF) the nominal group process took place in April 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The postulated key messages were discussed and voted on following a structured consensus procedure. In particular, modified warning signs for primary immunodeficiencies were formulated and immunological emergency situations were defined.
authors: Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Farmand
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Baumann
authors: H
authors: H
authors: von Bernuth
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Borte
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Foerster-Waldl
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Franke
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Habermehl
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Kapaun
authors: G
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authors: Klock
authors: J
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authors: Liese
authors: R
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authors: Marks
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authors: R
authors: Müller
authors: T
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authors: Nebe
authors: T
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authors: Niehues
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Schuster
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Warnatz
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Witte
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ehl
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Schulze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis