Evaluation of primary immunodeficiency in patients with meningitis in fever hospitals

Abstract

Background:The hallmark of primary immunodeficiency diseases is increased susceptibility to recurrent, severe and opportunistic infections. In this study we evaluate patients with meningitis for underlying primary immunodeficiencies. Methods: During the period from August 2016 to February 2017, thirty infant and children patients (16 males and 14 females) with age ranged from 40 days to 15 years participated in the study were admitted to Faqus and Zagazig fever hospitals with meningitis were evaluated for primary immunodeficiencies by measurement of serum immunoglobulin levels, assessment of T-Cell Receptor Excision Circles and assessment of complement system by CH50 assay. Results: This study showed that (50%) had deficient IgG, (20%) had deficient IgA, (30%) hyper IgE, (30%) hyper IgM and 10% deficient in all immunoglobulins. The study also showed that (43.3%) of the study group had TREC deficiency, (36.7%) were CH50 deficient and 26.7 had both TREC and CH50 deficiency. Conclusions: Meningitis may be the presenting manifestation of immunodeficiency diseases as there is high incidence of primary immune deficiency in patients with meningitis. TRECS and CH50 are decreased in most cases of meningitis which indicate high percentage of primary immunodeficiency diseases among those patients.