Focus on FOCIS: the continuing diagnostic challenge of autosomal recessive chronic granulomatous disease

Clin Immunol. 2008 Aug;128(2):117-26. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2008.05.008.

Abstract

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency of defective neutrophil oxidative burst activity due to mutations in the genes CYBA, NCF-1, NCF-2, and CYBB, which respectively encode the p22-phox, p47-phox, p67-phox, and gp91-phox subunits. CGD usually presents in early childhood with recurrent or severe infection with catalase-positive bacteria and fungi. We present an unusual case of CGD in which Burkholderia cepacia lymphadenitis developed in a previously healthy 10-year-old girl. Flow cytometric analysis of dihydrorhodamine (DHR)-labeled neutrophils performed by a CLIA-approved outside reference laboratory was reported as normal. However, we found that this patient's neutrophil oxidative burst activity in DHR assays was substantially reduced but not absent. A selective decrease in intracellular staining for p67-phox suggested the diagnosis of autosomal recessive CGD due to NCF-2 gene mutations, and a novel homozygous and hypomorphic NCF-2 gene mutation was found. The potential mechanisms for this delayed and mild presentation of CGD are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Burkholderia Infections / complications
  • Burkholderia cepacia
  • Child
  • Chromosome Aberrations
  • Female
  • Genes, Recessive
  • Genotype
  • Granulomatous Disease, Chronic / complications
  • Granulomatous Disease, Chronic / diagnosis*
  • Granulomatous Disease, Chronic / genetics*
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Mutation*
  • NADPH Oxidases / genetics*
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Respiratory Burst
  • Staining and Labeling

Substances

  • Phosphoproteins
  • neutrophil cytosol factor 67K
  • NADPH Oxidases
  • NCF2 protein, human