immunology allergic disorders
Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD)
Introduction
Chronic granulomatous disease is characterized by white blood cells that cannot produce activated oxygen compounds and by defects in phagocytic cell microbicidal function. Manifestations include recurrent infections; multiple granulomatous lesions of the lungs, liver, lymph nodes, and gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts; abscesses; lymphadenitis; hypergammaglobulinemia; elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate; and anemia. Diagnosis is by assessing oxygen radical production in white blood cells 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 Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a Primary Immunodeficiencies that involves In CGD, white blood cells (WBCs) do not producehydrogen peroxide, superoxide, and other activated oxygen 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. 