Distribution of Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders Diagnosed in a Tertiary Referral Center, Tehran, Iran (2006-2013)

Background: Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PID) are a group of hereditary disorders characterized by an increased susceptibility to severe and recurrent infections, autoimmunity, lymphoproliferative disorders, and malignancy. Objective: To evaluate the demographic and clinical data of PID patients diagnosed in a referral pediatric hospital. Method: All PID cases with a confirmed diagnosis, according to the criteria of International unio‎n of Immunological Societies, who were referred to the Children’s Medical Center in Tehran, Iran, between March 2006 and March 2013 were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. Results: Three-hundred and seven PID patients were investigated. Predominantly antibody deficiencies were the most common group of PID observed in 118 cases (38.4%), followed by the well-defined syndromes with immunodeficiency in 52 (16.9%), congenital defects of phagocyte in 45 (14.7%), combined immunodeficiencies in 36 (11.7%), autoinflammatory disorders in 34 (11.4%), immune dysregulation in 11 (3.6%), complement deficiencies in 7 (2.3%), and defects in innate immunity in 3 (1%). Selective IgA deficiency was the most prevalent disorder which affected 46 individuals (14.9%). The median diagnostic delay was 15 months. Conclusion: Increased awareness and availability of diagnostic tests could result in the better recognition of more undiagnosed PID cases and a decrease in diagnostic delay.