Explore Over 11,000+ Conditions, Medications, and Symptoms.
Get a personalized feed by signing up for free.
All Conditions
Hyper IgM Syndromes
by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023
This group contains additional names: - X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency
IgM is immunoglobulin M, which is one type of antibody. In hyper-IgM syndromes, some of the other immunoglobulins are turned into IgM antibodies, which causes decreased levels of the other immunoglobulins. Therefore, people who suffer from these syndromes are more susceptible to infections and sometimes even malignancies. The most common form of hyper IgM syndrome is caused due to a lack of protein found on the surface of T-lymphocytes, which have a crucial role in the immune system. Hyper IgM syndrome is inherited in either an X-linked pattern or autosomal recessive.
2 people with Hyper IgM Syndromes
Symptoms usually develop during the first year or two of life. The most common problem is recurrent infections, typically upper and lower respiratory tract bacterial infection. In some of the cases, fungal infections are also possible. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, liver disease and malabsorption. Neutropenia, or low white blood cell count, is seen in many of the patients. Autoimmune disorders such as arthritis, hemolytic anemia and hypothyroidism may also occur.
Diagnosis of hyper IgM syndromes should be suspected in babies with recurrent infections. The exact diagnosis is done by DNA analysis.
Treatment includes immunoglobulin replacement therapy, as in all forms of the disease there is a lack in IgG. Also, prophylactic treatment of antibiotics is sometimes recommended due to their susceptibility to PCP and other infections.
☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike
Alike is a transformative platform that goes beyond just bringing together patients; it meticulously connects individuals based on multiple critical factors, such as age, gender, comorbidities, medications, diet, and more, fostering a community of knowledge, support and empathy.
© 2020-2024 Alike, Inc