oa Current Allergy & Clinical Immunology - A practical approach to antibody deficiency syndromes : review article

Abstract

Antibody deficiency diseases are common collectively. The clinical presentation of these disorders is extremely variable and they affect many different organ systems; hence these patients present to a variety of medical and surgical specialists. Patients suffering from antibody deficiency are susceptible to significant, recurrent infections and if diagnosis and implementation of therapy is delayed are likely to experience significant morbidity and even mortality. It is therefore important that a broad range of physicians and surgeons are able to recognise the symptoms and signs of primary antibody deficiency, so that they are able to order and analyse basic immunology laboratory investigations. This will expedite referral to an appropriate specialist who is able to manage the affected individuals in the long term. The classification, clinical presentation, laboratory investigation and clinical management of such patients are reviewed.