The Mayo Clinic Primary Immunodeficiency Center provides comprehensive care, including diagnosis and treatment, for people throughout the full age spectrum with primary immunodeficiency. The center combines dedicated clinical and research expertise to provide state-of-the-art options for primary immunodeficiency care.
Mayo Clinic doctors who specialize in immune system conditions, called immunologists, have the expertise to diagnose and treat a wide spectrum of immunodeficiencies in adults and children. People who are referred to Mayo Clinic by their healthcare professionals undergo initial evaluations by allergy and immunology specialists.
Allergy specialists in both adult and pediatric medicine apply comprehensive clinical assessments and diagnostic testing to devise individualized treatment plans and ongoing compassionate care for people with primary immunodeficiencies.
The Primary Immunodeficiency Center uses an integrated team approach to help address the many complications associated with immunodeficiency. Our specialists collaborate closely with health professionals in other clinical groups to effectively care for people with primary immunodeficiency:
About primary immunodeficiency
Primary immunodeficiency is an immune system condition that increase a person's vulnerability to infections and other immunological and systemic problems. Some types of primary immunodeficiency cause a shortage of antibodies, the body's essential defense mechanism against viruses, bacteria and other disease-causing agents. Some primary immunodeficiencies have a gender bias (affecting only males), but others affect all genders equally. These conditions most commonly appear in infancy or childhood, but several others can manifest in adulthood. Most immunodeficiencies are caused by changes in a single gene, though some are likely caused by the interaction of more than one gene.
Before diagnosis and treatment, people with primary immunodeficiency can have frequent infections that may be hard to fight. These infections range from mild to severe, often affecting the upper respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract, the internal organs and the blood supply. The combination of a history of infections, blood antibody and immune assessments, and in some cases, specific vaccine response may confirm a diagnosis for primary immunodeficiency. Most diagnoses are confirmed with genetic testing, except when the genetic change is not yet known.
For most patients, treatment of primary immunodeficiency involves intravenous immunoglobulin (Ig) therapy to boost the immune system. In certain other primary immunodeficiencies, bone marrow transplant may be needed. Patients often benefit from antibiotic and other antimicrobial treatments to help manage infections.
More than 500 types of primary immunodeficiency have been identified. Some commonly encountered conditions diagnosed and treated at Mayo Clinic include:
Read more about primary immunodeficiency.