Overview of 15-year severe combined immunodeficiency in the Netherlands: towards newborn blood spot screening

  • Anne P. J. de Pagter
  • , Robbert G. M. Bredius
  • , Taco W. Kuijpers
  • , Jelco Tramper
  • , Mirjam van der Burg
  • , JM van Montfrans
  • , Gertjan J. Driessen*
  • ,
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

1 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) is a fatal primary immunodeficiency usually presenting in the first months of life with (opportunistic) infections, diarrhea, and failure to thrive. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and gene therapy (GT) are curative treatment options. The objective of the study was to assess the morbidity, mortality, and diagnostic and therapeutic delay in children with SCID in the Netherlands in the last 15 years. These data may help to judge whether SCID should be considered to be included in our national neonatal screening program. In the period 1998-2013, 43 SCID patients were diagnosed in the Netherlands, 11 of whom were atypical SCID (presentation beyond the first year). The median interval between the first symptom and diagnosis was 2 months (range 0-1173 months). The total mortality was 42 %. In total, 32 patients were treated with HSCT of whom 8 were deceased. Nine patients died due to severe infectious complications before curative treatment could be initiated.

Conclusion: Because of a high mortality of patients with SCID before HSCT could be initiated, only a national newborn screening program and pre-emptive HSCT or GT will be able to improve survival of these patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1183-1188
Number of pages6
JournalEuropean Journal of Pediatrics
Volume174
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2015

Keywords

  • Severe combined immunodeficiency
  • Primary immunodeficiency
  • Infection
  • Viral
  • Bacterial
  • Stem cell transplantation
  • TRANSPLANTATION

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Overview of 15-year severe combined immunodeficiency in the Netherlands: towards newborn blood spot screening'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this