Screening for primary immunodeficiency diseases by next-generation sequencing in early life
- PMID: 32431812
- PMCID: PMC7231820
- DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1138
Screening for primary immunodeficiency diseases by next-generation sequencing in early life
Abstract
Objective: We aimed to use next-generation sequencing (NGS) for the early diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) and define its effects on medical management for an infant cohort in early life.
Methods: A single-centre study was conducted from November 2015 to April 2018. Infants less than 3 months old with infections or abnormal white blood cell counts were enrolled in the study. Gene variants were analysed by NGS, and once a mutation was found in a PID-associated gene, the immune functions associated with this mutation were detected. The diagnosis rate of PIDs in the cohort was the main outcome. The patients received corresponding management and follow-up treatments.
Results: Among 2392 patients who were genetically tested with NGS, 51 infants were diagnosed with PIDs. Seven types of PIDs were detected, and the most common (25/51, 49%) were combined immunodeficiencies with associated or syndromic features. Thirty-five patients (68.6%) were cured or had improved outcomes after being diagnosed with PID. The NGS cost was US$280 per case.
Conclusions: This study not only highlighted the potential of NGS to rapidly deliver molecular diagnoses of PIDs but also indicated that the prevalence of PIDs is underestimated. With broader use, this approach has the potential to alter clinical strategies.
Keywords: clinical utility; infants; next‐generation sequencing; primary immunodeficiency diseases.
© 2020 The Authors. Clinical & Translational Immunology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology Inc.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
Figures



Similar articles
-
Targeted next-generation sequencing: a novel diagnostic tool for primary immunodeficiencies.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014 Feb;133(2):529-34. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.08.032. Epub 2013 Oct 15. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014. PMID: 24139496
-
Targeted NGS Platforms for Genetic Screening and Gene Discovery in Primary Immunodeficiencies.Front Immunol. 2019 Apr 11;10:316. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00316. eCollection 2019. Front Immunol. 2019. PMID: 31031743 Free PMC article.
-
Targeted NGS: A Cost-Effective Approach to Molecular Diagnosis of PIDs.Front Immunol. 2014 Nov 3;5:531. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00531. eCollection 2014. Front Immunol. 2014. PMID: 25404929 Free PMC article.
-
Uses of Next-Generation Sequencing Technologies for the Diagnosis of Primary Immunodeficiencies.Front Immunol. 2017 Jul 24;8:847. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00847. eCollection 2017. Front Immunol. 2017. PMID: 28791010 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Diagnostic Yield of Next Generation Sequencing in Genetically Undiagnosed Patients with Primary Immunodeficiencies: a Systematic Review.J Clin Immunol. 2019 Aug;39(6):577-591. doi: 10.1007/s10875-019-00656-x. Epub 2019 Jun 28. J Clin Immunol. 2019. PMID: 31250335 Free PMC article.
Cited by
-
Modern diagnostic capabilities of neonatal screening for primary immunodeficiencies in newborns.Clin Exp Pediatr. 2021 Oct;64(10):504-510. doi: 10.3345/cep.2020.01270. Epub 2021 Mar 25. Clin Exp Pediatr. 2021. PMID: 33781055 Free PMC article.
-
Combining Metagenomic Sequencing With Whole Exome Sequencing to Optimize Clinical Strategies in Neonates With a Suspected Central Nervous System Infection.Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2021 Jun 18;11:671109. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.671109. eCollection 2021. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2021. PMID: 34222042 Free PMC article.
-
Diagnostic yield of next-generation sequencing in suspect primary immunodeficiencies diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Clin Exp Med. 2024 Jun 18;24(1):131. doi: 10.1007/s10238-024-01392-2. Clin Exp Med. 2024. PMID: 38890201 Free PMC article.
-
Inborn errors of immunity in mainland China: the past, present and future.BMJ Paediatr Open. 2023 Jul;7(1):e002002. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2023-002002. BMJ Paediatr Open. 2023. PMID: 37474202 Free PMC article. Review.
-
From syndromic clues to diagnosis: understanding CARD11-driven disorders.Front Immunol. 2025 Jun 23;16:1626065. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1626065. eCollection 2025. Front Immunol. 2025. PMID: 40625738 Free PMC article. Review.
References
-
- Pan‐Hammarström Q, Abolhassani H, Hammarström L. Defects in plasma cell differentiation are associated with primary immunodeficiency in human subjects. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018; 141: 1217–1219. - PubMed
-
- Chou J, Ohsumi TK, Geha RS. Use of whole exome and genome sequencing in the identification of genetic causes of primary immunodeficiencies. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2012; 12: 623–628. - PubMed
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Miscellaneous