Primary immunodeficiency

Symptoms

People with primary immunodeficiency are more likely to have symptoms such as²

• More frequent or repeated infections
• Infections that last longer than in most people
• Infections that are hard to treat and do not respond to antibiotics or require IV antibiotics
• Infections that are more severe and require hospitalization, such as  sepsis  or abscesses (pus-filled infections) of internal organs 
• Infections that most people don’t get (sometimes called opportunistic infections)
• Lack of weight gain or growth in an infant (failure to thrive)
• Digestive problems, such as chronic diarrhea

Please always consult healthcare professionals about these symptoms and for further advice on primary immunodeficiency. 

Causes

The cause is frequently found to be genetic. Some immunodeficiencies are caused by a single faulty gene and others by a combination of genes. The fault may be inherited, be a new mutation in one of your genes or it may have been inherited from one or both of your parents. Most commonly, a faulty gene does not matter, unless the same fault is inherited from both parents. ¹

Treatment for primary immunodeficiency

Immunoglobulin replacement therapy is one of the medical therapies available to treat immunodeficiency. 

Immunoglobulin replacement therapy can be given through an IV, or under the skin, (subcutaneous, SCIg). Both methods are effective at replacing immunoglobulin (IgG) to levels necessary to fight infection³. Always consult healthcare professionals for advice on immunodeficiency.

1.Baxendale Dr. and Henderson K.(2015), "Understanding primary immunodeficiency", Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.PI_76_Understanding_Primary_Immunodeficiency_review_2015.pdf (royalpapworth.nhs.uk)

2.Center for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov. Reviewed May 20, 2022. Accessed February 26, 2024.https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/primary_immunodeficiency.htm#:~:text=People%20with%20primary%20immunodeficiency%20(PI,how%20early%20they%20are%20detected.

3.American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology: aaaai.org. Accessed February 26, 2024. Immunoglobulin (IgG) Replacement Therapy Defined | AAAA