immune disorders
X Linked Agammaglobulinemia
Introduction
X-linked agammaglobulinemia is a hereditary immunodeficiency disorder due to a mutation in a gene on the X (sex) chromosome. The disorder results in no B cells (a type of lymphocyte) and very low levels of or no antibodies (immunoglobulins). Infants with X-linked agammaglobulinemia start having recurring coughs and/or infections of the nose, ears, skin, sinuses, and lungs at about age 6 months. Doctors diagnose the disorder by measuring immunoglobulin levels and the number of B cells . Immune globulin is given throughout life, and antibiotics may be given continuously. (See also Overview of Immunodeficiency Disorders .) Antibodies (immunoglobulins) are substances produced by the immune system to help defend the body against infection, cancer, and foreign substances. Antibodies are produced by a type of white blood cell called X-linked agammaglobulinemia results from a mutation in a gene on the X (sex) chromosome (called an X-Linked Inheritance . X-linked disorders usually affect boys. 