onset in infancy (SAVI), and another by additive loss-of-function mutations in proteasome genes causing the proteasome-associated autoinflammatory syndromes (PRAAS) (also, chronic atypical neutrophilic dermatosis with lipodystrophy and elevated temperatures [CANDLE]), presented with chronically elevated interferon (IFN) signatures, suggesting a pathogenic role for type-I IFN in autoinflammatory diseases (2, 3). Type-I IFN was first discovered as a soluble antiviral factor over 50 years ago, and a role in sterile inflammation was proposed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (4). However, the discovery of genetic mutations that cause the autoinflammatory type-I interferonopathies CANDLE (2, 5), SAVI (3, 6-8), and Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) (9, 10) have shed light on pathomechanisms that drive chronic IFN signaling, and recent studies blocking IFN signaling validate a critical role for type-I IFNs (11). AGS-causing loss-of-function mutations in nucleases impair self-nucleic acid homeostasis, SAVI-causing
Background
Inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) are a heterogeneous group of genetic defects of immunity, which cause high rates of morbidity and mortality mainly among children due to infectious and non-infectious complications. The IEI burden has been critically underestimated in countries from middle- and low-income regions and the majority of patients with IEI in these regions lack a molecular diagnosis.
Methods
We analyzed the clinical, immunologic, and genetic data of IEI patients from 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The data was collected from national registries and diverse databases such as the Asian Pacific Society for Immunodeficiencies (APSID) registry, African Society for Immunodeficiencies (ASID) registry, Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF) registry, J Project centers, and International Consortium on Immune Deficiency (ICID) centers.
Results
We identified 17,120 patients with IEI, among which females represented 39.4%. Parental consanguinity was present in 60.5% of cases and 27.3% of the patients were from families with a confirmed previous family history of IEI. The median age of patients at the onset of disease was 36 months and the median delay in diagnosis was 41 months. The rate of registered IEI patients ranges between 0.02 and 7.58 per 100,000 population, and the lowest rates were in countries with the highest rates of disability-adjusted life years (DALY) and death rates for children. Predominantly antibody deficiencies were the most frequent IEI entities diagnosed in 41.2% of the cohort. Among 5871 patients genetically evaluated, the diagnostic yield was 83% with the majority (65.2%) having autosomal recessive defects. The mortality rate was the highest in patients with non-syndromic combined immunodeficiency (51.7%, median age: 3.5 years) and particularly in patients with mutations in specific genes associated with this phenotype (RFXANK, RAG1, and IL2RG).
Conclusions
This comprehensive registry highlights the importance of a detailed investigation of IEI patients in the MENA region. The high yield of genetic diagnosis of IEI in this region has important implications for prevention, prognosis, treatment, and resource allocation.
Jeffrey Modell Foundation centers' network activities in Central and Eastern Europe (JMF CEE) have contributed to the development of care for patients with primary immunodeficiencies. On the data continuously collected from individual centers in participating countries since 2011, we demonstrate a steady improvement in a number of aspects concerning complex care for patients with primary immunodeficiencies. The presented data show an improvement of awareness about these rare diseases across the whole Central and Eastern European region, an increase in newly diagnosed patients as well as genetically confirmed cases, earlier establishment of diagnosis, and improved access to clinical treatment. We also present an active patient involvement that is reflected in the expansion of patient organization centers and their activities. The cooperation within the JMF CEE network has also contributed to greater international exposure of participating centers and further to the gradual development of research activities in the rapidly evolving field of primary immunodeficiencies. The improvement of all important aspects of the complex field of primary immunodeficiencies within the JMF CEE network documents the strength and advantages of the joint and coordinated networking.
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