Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases: Definition, Diagnosis, and Management

Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) are a group of disorders involving defects in one or more components of the immune system, and are characterized by an increased incidence of infections, autoimmunity, and malignancies. Although PID seem to be rare, the number of patients diagnosed has increased in recent years, and more than 150 different forms of PID have been identified. Nevertheless, because of inadequate medical awareness, a significant number of patients with PID are either not ...