1. Clinical and Immunological Approach to the Diagnosis of Immunodeficiencies
- Author
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Rump Ja, E. Baumert, M. Armbruster, Herbst Ew, G. Wolff-Vorbeck, P. Vaith, A. Kliche, Michael Schlesier, A. Jahreis, H. H. Peter, Buscher Hp, and Ruth Dräger
- Subjects
Clinical Practice ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Natural Killer Cell Function ,business.industry ,medicine ,Identification (biology) ,Intensive care medicine ,business - Abstract
The rational diagnosis of immunodeficiencies is increasingly gaining importance in clinical practice. The availibility of highly complex and expensive immunologic and molecular methods to identify subtle defects in the immune apparatus often contrasts with the limited immunological knowledge of the physicians in charge of immunocompromised patients. In this situation a practical guide for the diagnosis of immunodeficiencies may be helpful. Any evaluation should start with simple, informative, and inexpensive measures before proceeding to more complex, specialized, and expensive diagnostic procedures. Prime emphasis is placed on defects of the specific immune system, which account for 80%–90% of clinically relevant immunodeficiencies. The ultimate aim of each immunodiagnostic measure is the establishment of a validated diagnosis, the identification of etiological factors, and the proposal of a causal therapy.
- Published
- 1993