AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES DETECTED IN CHILDREN WITH PRIMARY IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISEASES: RESULTS FROM A REFERENCE CENTRE AT MIDDLE ANATOLIA

Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders that genetically affect distinct components of the immune system; thus, predispose individuals to recurrent infections, allergy, autoimmunity, and malignancies. In this retrospective study, autoimmune diseases (ADs), which developed during the course of PID in children, were discussed. Twenty-five patients were included in this study. Symptoms related to ADs, such as autoimmune thyroiditis, type 1 diabetes mellitus, coeliac disease, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, dermatomyositis, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, Henoch-Schonlein purpura, hypoparathyroidism, alopecia areata, Addison's disease, vitiligo and systemic lupus erythematosus were detected in these patients, who have been followed with diagnosis of PID including common variable immunodeficiency, selective and partial IgA deficiency, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, ataxia telangiectasia, hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, Griscelli syndrome, and partial C4 deficiency. Immunodeficiency and autoimmune phenomenon may concomitantly present in an individual, although they seem to be incompatible ends in the spectrum of the clinical immune response. Patients with primary immune deficiency should be closely monitored for development of autoimmune diseases.