* This is the Professional Version. *
Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD)
Patient Education
- Immunodeficiency Disorders
- Overview of Immunodeficiency Disorders
- Approach to the Patient With Suspected Immunodeficiency
- Ataxia-Telangiectasia
- Chédiak-Higashi Syndrome
- Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD)
- Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis
- Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID)
- DiGeorge Syndrome
- Hyper-IgE Syndrome
- Hyper-IgM Syndrome
- Selective IgA Deficiency
- Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency
- Selective Antibody Deficiency With Normal Immunoglobulins (SADNI)
- Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
- Transient Hypogammaglobulinemia of Infancy
- Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome
- X-linked Agammaglobulinemia
- X-linked Lymphoproliferative Syndrome
- ZAP-70 Deficiency
Chronic granulomatous disease is characterized by WBCs that cannot produce activated O2compounds and by defects in phagocytic cell microbicidal function. Manifestations include recurrent infections; multiple granulomatous lesions of the lungs, liver, lymph nodes, and GI and GU tract; abscesses; lymphadenitis; hypergammaglobulinemia; elevated ESR; and anemia. Diagnosis is by assessing O2radical production in WBCs via a flow cytometric oxidative burst assay. Treatment is with antibiotics, antifungal drugs, and interferon gamma; granulocyte transfusions may be needed.
(See also Overview of Immunodeficiency Disorders and Approach to the Patient With an Immunodeficiency Disorder.)
Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency disorder that involves phagocytic cell defects. More than 50% of cases of CGD are inherited as an X-linked recessive trait and thus occur only in males; in the rest, inheritance is autosomal recessive. Common mutations responsible for CGD affect the gp91phox (X-linked form), p22phox, p47phox, and p67phox genes.
In CGD, WBCs do not produce hydrogen peroxide, superoxide, and other activated O2 compounds because nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity is deficient. Phagocytic cell microbicidal function is defective; thus, bacteria and fungi are not killed despite normal phagocytosis.
Symptoms and Signs
CGD usually begins with recurrent abscesses during early childhood, but in a few patients, onset is delayed until the early teens. Typical pathogens are catalase-producing organisms (eg, Staphylococcus aureus; Escherichia coli; Serratia, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas sp; fungi). Aspergillus infections are the leading cause of death.
Multiple granulomatous lesions occur in the lungs, liver, lymph nodes, and GI and GU tract (causing obstruction). Suppurative lymphadenitis, hepatosplenomegaly, pneumonia, and hematologic evidence of chronic infection are common. Skin, lymph node, lung, liver, and perianal abscesses; stomatitis; and osteomyelitis also occur.
Growth may be delayed.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of CGD is by a flow cytometric oxidative (respiratory) burst assay to detect O2 radical production using dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR) or nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT). This test can also identify female carriers of the X-linked form and recessive forms.
Genetic testing is done only in research settings and is not required to make the diagnosis. Siblings are usually screened using DHR shortly after the diagnosis.
Hypergammaglobulinemia and anemia can occur; ESR is elevated.
Treatment
Treatment of CGD is continuous prophylactic antibiotics, particularly trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole 160/800 mg po bid. Oral antifungals are given as primary prophylaxis or are added if fungal infections occur even once; most useful are
Interferon gamma may reduce severity and frequency of infections and is usually included in the treatment regimen. Usual dose is 50 mcg/m2 sc 3 times/wk.
Granulocyte transfusions can be lifesaving when infections are severe.
When preceded by pretransplantation chemotherapy, HLA-identical sibling hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is usually successful.
Gene therapy is under study.
Key Points
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Suspect chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) if patients have recurrent abscesses during childhood (sometimes not until the early teens), particularly if the pathogen is a catalase-producing organism (eg, Staphylococcus aureus; Escherichia coli; Serratia, Klebsiella, or Pseudomonas sp; fungi).
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Use the flow cytometric oxidative burst assay to diagnose CGD and identify carriers.
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Treat most patients with prophylactic antibiotics, antifungals, and interferon gamma.
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For severe infections, give granulocyte transfusions.
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Consider hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
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Drug NameSelect Trade
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trimethoprimNo US brand name
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PosaconazoleNOXAFIL
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VoriconazoleVFEND
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ItraconazoleSPORANOX
- Immunodeficiency Disorders
- Overview of Immunodeficiency Disorders
- Approach to the Patient With Suspected Immunodeficiency
- Ataxia-Telangiectasia
- Chédiak-Higashi Syndrome
- Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD)
- Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis
- Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID)
- DiGeorge Syndrome
- Hyper-IgE Syndrome
- Hyper-IgM Syndrome
- Selective IgA Deficiency
- Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency
- Selective Antibody Deficiency With Normal Immunoglobulins (SADNI)
- Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
- Transient Hypogammaglobulinemia of Infancy
- Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome
- X-linked Agammaglobulinemia
- X-linked Lymphoproliferative Syndrome
- ZAP-70 Deficiency
* This is the Professional Version. *
Also of Interest
Test your knowledge
Immunodeficiency typically manifests as recurrent infections. However, there are more likely causes of recurrent infections, such as inadequate duration of antibiotic treatment, resistant organisms, and other disorders that predispose to infection. Immunodeficiency should be suspected EXCEPT when recurrent infections are which of the following?
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