Case Report Cernunnos/XLF Deficiency: A Syndromic Primary Immunodeficiency

Artemis, DNA ligase IV, DNA protein kinase catalytic subunit, and Cernunnos/XLF genes in nonhomologous end joining pathways of DNA repair mechanisms have been identified as responsible for radiosensitive SCID. Here, we present a 3-year-old girl patient with severe growth retardation, bird-like face, recurrent perianal abscess, pancytopenia, and polydactyly. Firstly, she was thought as Fanconi anemia and spontaneous DNA breaks were seen on chromosomal analysis. After that DEB test was found to be normal and Fanconi anemia was excluded. Because of that she had low IgG and IgA levels, normal IgM level, and absence of B cells in peripheral blood; she was considered as primary immunodeficiency, Nijmegen breakage syndrome. A mutation in NBS1 gene was not found; then Cernunnos/XLF deficiency was investigated due to clinical similarities with previously reported cases. Homozygous mutation in Cernunnos/XLF gene (NHEJ1) was identified. She is now on regular IVIG prophylaxis and has no new infection. Fully matched donor screening is in progress for bone marrow transplantation which is curative treatment of the disease. In conclusion, the patients with microcephaly, bird-like face, and severe growth retardation should be evaluated for hypogammaglobulinemia and primary immunodeficiency diseases

Cernunnos/XLF Deficiency: A Syndromic Primary Immunodeficiency

Artemis, DNA ligase IV, DNA protein kinase catalytic subunit, and Cernunnos/XLF genes in nonhomologous end joining pathways of DNA repair mechanisms have been identified as responsible for radiosensitive SCID. Here, we present a 3-year-old girl patient with severe growth retardation, bird-like face, recurrent perianal abscess, pancytopenia, and polydactyly. Firstly, she was thought as Fanconi anemia and spontaneous DNA breaks were seen on chromosomal analysis. After that DEB test was found to be normal and Fanconi anemia was excluded. Because of that she had low IgG and IgA levels, normal IgM level, and absence of B cells in peripheral blood; she was considered as primary immunodeficiency, Nijmegen breakage syndrome. A mutation in NBS1 gene was not found; then Cernunnos/XLF deficiency was investigated due to clinical similarities with previously reported cases. Homozygous mutation in Cernunnos/XLF gene (NHEJ1) was identified. She is now on regular IVIG prophylaxis and has no new infection. Fully matched donor screening is in progress for bone marrow transplantation which is curative treatment of the disease. In conclusion, the patients with microcephaly, bird-like face, and severe growth retardation should be evaluated for hypogammaglobulinemia and primary immunodeficiency diseases

Expanding the Clinical and Immunological Phenotypes and Natural History of MALT1 Deficiency

Purpose MALT1 deficiency is a combined immune deficiency characterized by recurrent infections, eczema, chronic diarrhea, and failure to thrive. Clinical and immunological characterizations of the disease have not been previously reported in large cohorts. We sought to determine the clinical, immunological, genetic features, and the natural history of MALT-1 deficiency. Methods The clinical findings and treatment outcomes were evaluated in nine new MALT1-deficient patients. Peripheral lymphocyte subset analyses, cytokine secretion, and proliferation assays were performed. We also analyzed ten previously reported patients to comprehensively evaluate genotype/phenotype correlation. Results The mean age of patients and disease onset were 33 +/- 17 and 1.6 +/- 0.7 months, respectively. The main clinical findings of the disease were recurrent infections (100%), skin involvement (100%), failure to thrive (100%), oral lesions (67%), chronic diarrhea (56%), and autoimmunity (44%). Eosinophilia and high IgE were observed in six (67%) and two (22%) patients, respectively. The majority of patients had normal T and NK cells, while eight (89%) exhibited reduced B cells. Immunoglobulin replacement and antibiotics prophylaxis were mostly ineffective in reducing the frequency of infections and other complications. One patient received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and five patients died as a complication of life-threatening infections. Analyzing this cohort with reported patients revealed overall survival in 58% (11/19), which was higher in patients who underwent HSCT (P = 0.03). Conclusion This cohort provides the largest analysis for clinical and immunological features of MALT1 deficiency. HSCT should be offered as a curative therapeutic option for all patients at the early stage of life

Expanding the clinical and immunological phenotypes and natural history of MALT1 deficiency

Purpose MALT1 deficiency is a combined immune deficiency characterized by recurrent infections, eczema, chronic diarrhea, and failure to thrive. Clinical and immunological characterizations of the disease have not been previously reported in large cohorts. We sought to determine the clinical, immunological, genetic features, and the natural history of MALT-1 deficiency. Methods The clinical findings and treatment outcomes were evaluated in nine new MALT1-deficient patients. Peripheral lymphocyte subset analyses, cytokine secretion, and proliferation assays were performed. We also analyzed ten previously reported patients to comprehensively evaluate genotype/phenotype correlation. Results The mean age of patients and disease onset were 33 +/- 17 and 1.6 +/- 0.7 months, respectively. The main clinical findings of the disease were recurrent infections (100%), skin involvement (100%), failure to thrive (100%), oral lesions (67%), chronic diarrhea (56%), and autoimmunity (44%). Eosinophilia and high IgE were observed in six (67%) and two (22%) patients, respectively. The majority of patients had normal T and NK cells, while eight (89%) exhibited reduced B cells. Immunoglobulin replacement and antibiotics prophylaxis were mostly ineffective in reducing the frequency of infections and other complications. One patient received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and five patients died as a complication of life-threatening infections. Analyzing this cohort with reported patients revealed overall survival in 58% (11/19), which was higher in patients who underwent HSCT (P = 0.03). Conclusion This cohort provides the largest analysis for clinical and immunological features of MALT1 deficiency. HSCT should be offered as a curative therapeutic option for all patients at the early stage of life

Expanding the Clinical and Immunological Phenotypes and Natural History of MALT1 Deficiency

Purpose MALT1 deficiency is a combined immune deficiency characterized by recurrent infections, eczema, chronic diarrhea, and failure to thrive. Clinical and immunological characterizations of the disease have not been previously reported in large cohorts. We sought to determine the clinical, immunological, genetic features, and the natural history of MALT-1 deficiency. Methods The clinical findings and treatment outcomes were evaluated in nine new MALT1-deficient patients. Peripheral lymphocyte subset analyses, cytokine secretion, and proliferation assays were performed. We also analyzed ten previously reported patients to comprehensively evaluate genotype/phenotype correlation. Results The mean age of patients and disease onset were 33 +/- 17 and 1.6 +/- 0.7 months, respectively. The main clinical findings of the disease were recurrent infections (100%), skin involvement (100%), failure to thrive (100%), oral lesions (67%), chronic diarrhea (56%), and autoimmunity (44%). Eosinophilia and high IgE were observed in six (67%) and two (22%) patients, respectively. The majority of patients had normal T and NK cells, while eight (89%) exhibited reduced B cells. Immunoglobulin replacement and antibiotics prophylaxis were mostly ineffective in reducing the frequency of infections and other complications. One patient received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and five patients died as a complication of life-threatening infections. Analyzing this cohort with reported patients revealed overall survival in 58% (11/19), which was higher in patients who underwent HSCT (P = 0.03). Conclusion This cohort provides the largest analysis for clinical and immunological features of MALT1 deficiency. HSCT should be offered as a curative therapeutic option for all patients at the early stage of life

Abatacept as a Long-Term Targeted Therapy for LRBA Deficiency

BACKGROUND: LPS-responsive beige-like anchor (LRBA) deficiency presents with susceptibility to infections, autoimmunity, and lymphoproliferation. The long-term efficacy of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4-immunoglobulin (abatacept) as targeted therapy for its immune dysregulatory features remains to be established