Congenital and acquired immunodeficiency disorders of man and animals

The immunodeficiencies represent a diverse group of disorders affecting immune system qualitatively and/or quantitatively. While the congenital or primary immunodeficiencies have their roots in gene defects as a result of drugs, infections and environmental factors, the acquired or secondary immunodeficiencies precipitate due to immunosuppression associated with occurrence of other diseases like tumors, infection, environmental pollution, malnutrition etc. in previously healthy individuals. The diagnosis of these disorders involves assessment of functional status of various components of immune system such as T-cells, B-cells, macrophages, cytokines immunoglobulins, complements etc. The prognosis ranges from good through guarded to bad depending upon the type of the immunodeficiency. The treatment usually requires a long duration and envisages antibiotic immunoglobulin supplementation, stem cell transplantation, immunomodulators enzyme substitution and gene therapy. The immunodeticiencies being diverse and complex in nature, it seems imperative to pool resources world wide for candid understanding of the molecular basis of the disorders and instituting appropriate preventive and therapeutic measures.