A single‐center study points to diverse features and outcome in patients with Hyperimmunoglobulin M Syndrome and Class‐ Switch Recombination defects

Abstract

Isotype class-switch recombination (CSR), somatic hypermutation (SHM), B cell signalling and DNA repair mechanisms defects are responsible for high IgM.The hyperimmunoglobulin M (HIGM) phenotype and CSR-related defects are now classified under primary antibody defects, combined immunodeficiencies or syndromic immunodeficiencies groups. The aim of the study is to evaluate the diverse phenotypic/genotypic/laboratory characteristics and outcome of patients with CSR defects and HIGM-related defects. We enrolled 50 patients. The most common gene defect was Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) deficiency (n = 18), followed by CD40 Ligand (CD40L) (n = 14) and CD40 (n = 3) deficiency. Median ages at first symptom and diagnosis were significantly lower in CD40L deficiency (8.5 and 30 months, respectively) than AID deficiency (30 and 114 months, respectively) (p = .001 and p = .008, respectively). Frequent clinical symptoms were recurrent (66%) and severe (14.9%) infections, and/or autoimmune/non-infectious inflammatory features (48.4%). Eosinophilia and neutropenia were at a higher rate in CD40L deficiency patients (77.8%, p = .002 and 77.8%, p = .002, respectively) when compared to AID deficiency. Median serum IgM level was low in 28.6% of CD40L deficiency patients. It was significantly lower when compared to AID deficiency (p < 0.001). Six patients (CD40L deficiency n = 4, CD40 deficiency n = 2) underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Five were alive at the last visit. Four patients two patients with CD40L deficiency, one with CD40 deficiency and one with AID deficiency had novel mutations. In conclusion; patients with CSR defects and HIGM phenotype may present with a wide range of clinical manifestations and laboratory findings. Low IgM, neutropenia and eosinophilia were prominent in patients with CD40L deficiency. Characterization of genetic defect-specific clinical and laboratory features may ease the diagnosis, prevent the underdiagnoses of patients and ameliorate the outcome.