Inbon Errors of Immunity Attending Assiut University Children&Amp;#39;s Hospital: a Single Center Study

Introduction

Inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) are generally considered to be rare monogenic disorders of the immune system that cause immunodeficiency, autoinflammation, autoimmunity, allergy and/or cancer (1). IEIs are a group of diseases comprised of more than 450 IEIs, and they are becoming more prevalent (2). Although IEIs are rare diseases, they are more common than previously thought, following the use of modern diagnostic methods. A recent evaluation indicated that at least 1-2% of the world's population are affected by IEIs (3). Several warning signs have been developed to increase physician awareness about the early signs that can help to diagnosis IEIs. Warning signs of IEIs were developed by an institution called the Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF) (4,5). the ten warning signs are four or more new ear infections within 1 year,two or more serious sinus infections within 1 year,two or more months on antibiotics with little effect,two or more pneumonias within 1 year,failure of an infant to gain weight or grow normally,recurrent, deep skin or organ abscesses, persistent thrush in mouth or fungal infection on skin, need for intravenous antibiotics to clear infections,Two or more deep-seated infections including septicemia and family history of IEIs. (6). The International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) has classified IEIs into nine categories based upon the segment of the immune system that is affected, plus a 10th category of IEIs phenocopies. Each category is characterized by unique types of infections and clinical features that are useful for the selection of initial appropriate laboratory evaluation to help with diagnosis (7). The mechanisms that explain the increased susceptibility of IEIs patients to the development of tumours are multiple and different in the various pathologies. The most common process is the reduction of cell-mediated immunosurveillance, which plays a fundamental role in protecting against tumours (8,9). Several pathways, such as genomic instability, overstimulation of immune cells, viral infection and chronic inflammation, have been proposed to explain the increased incidence of malignancy among patients with IEIs (10). Moreover, defective dendritic cells (DCs) differentiation and function, which affect the initiation and development of T cell responses, have been associated with cancer development (11) The diagnostic investigation of IEIs should be guided by the clinical characterization of patients, aiming to optimize the use of complementary tests. Many diagnoses are attained only through genetic tests, which are not always available. However, the absence of a diagnosis of certainty should never delay the implementation of therapeutic measures that preserve patient life and health (12). Major advances in the treatment of these disorders have occurred over the last half-century, and deeper molecular understanding of many disorders combined with clinically available genetic testing is allowing for use of precision therapy for several IEIs. Patients with antibody deficiencies who rely on immunoglobulin replacement therapy now have many treatment options with products that are much safer and better tolerated compared to the past (13). Steroids are often used as an initial therapy but have serious long-term complications. Targeted immune therapies, such as cytokine or small molecule inhibitors, are increasingly available with the advantage of fewer global immune suppressive effects. However, patients with IEIs often do not have an adequate clinical response to immunosuppressive treatment, resulting in referral for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) as a potentially curative therapy (14,15).