Hyper IgM Syndrome

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Hyper IgM Syndrome is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

• Dysgammaglobulinemia Type I
• IHIS
• IMD3
• Immunodeficiency with Increased IgM
• Immunodeficiency-3
• HIM

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

Hyper-IgM Syndrome (HIM) is a rare genetic (primary) immunodeficiency disorder that is typically inherited as an X-linked recessive genetic trait. Symptoms and physical findings associated with the disorder usually become apparent in the first or second year of life. Hyper-IgM Syndrome may be characterized by recurrent pus-producing (pyogenic) bacterial infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract including the sinuses (sinusitis) and/or the lungs (pneumonitis or pneumonia); the middle ear (otitis media); the membrane that lines the eyelids and the white portions (sclera) of the eyes (conjunctivitis); the skin (pyoderma); and/or, in some cases, other areas. Individuals with Hyper-IgM Syndrome are also susceptible to "opportunistic" infections, i.e., infections caused by microorganisms that usually do not cause disease in individuals with fully functioning immune systems (non-immunocompromised) or widespread (systemic) overwhelming disease by microorganisms that typically cause only localized, mild infections. In individuals with Hyper-IgM Syndrome, such opportunistic infections may include those caused by Pneumocystis carinii, a microorganism that causes a form of pneumonia, or Cryptosporidium, a single-celled parasite (protozoa) that can cause infections of the intestinal tract. In addition, individuals with Hyper-IgM Syndrome are prone to certain autoimmune disorders affecting particular elements of the blood, such as neutropenia, a condition in which there is an abnormal decrease of certain white blood cells (neutrophils). Additional physical findings often associated with the disorder may include enlargement (hypertrophy) of the tonsils, enlargement of the liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegaly), chronic diarrhea and impaired absorption of nutrients by the intestinal tract (malabsorption), and/or other symptoms.

The range and severity of symptoms and physical features associated with this disorder may vary from case to case. Because approximately 70 percent of reported cases of Hyper-IgM Syndrome are inherited as an X-linked recessive genetic trait, the vast majority of affected individuals are male. However, some cases of autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant genetic inheritance have been reported. In addition, a rare acquired form of the disorder has been described in the medical literature.
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Resources

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
Tel: (914)428-7100
Fax: (914)997-4763
Tel: (888)663-4637
Email: Askus@marchofdimes.com
Internet: http://www.marchofdimes.com

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
22100 Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe, MI 48021-2227
Tel: (586)776-3900
Fax: (586)776-3903
Tel: (800)598-4668
Email: aarda@aarda.org
Internet: http://www.aarda.org/

Immune Deficiency Foundation
40 West Chesapeake Avenue
Suite 308
Towson, MD 21230
Tel: (410)321-6647
Fax: (410)321-9165
Tel: (800)296-4433
Email: idf@primaryimmune.org
Internet: http://www.primaryimmune.org

National Neutropenia Network
PO Box 1693
Brighton, MI 48116
USA
Tel: 8102295797
Email: leereeves99@gmail.com
Internet: http://www.neutropenianet.org

NIH/National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
USA
Tel: 3014954484
Fax: 3017186366
Tel: 8772264267
TDD: 3015652966
Email: NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info

NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
Tel: (301)592-8573
Fax: (301)251-1223
Email: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov

Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research
Medical College of Wisconsin
8701 Watertown Plank Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226
Tel: (414)456-8325
Fax: (414)456-6530
Email: mnugent@hpi.mcw.edu
Internet: http://www.ibmtr.org; http://www.cibmtr.org

Neutropenia Support Association, Inc.
971 Corydon Avenue
Winnepeg
Manitoba, R3M 3S7
Canada
Tel: 2044898454
Tel: 8006638876
Email: stevensl@neutropenia.ca
Internet: http://www.neutropenia.ca

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
611 East Wells Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Tel: (414)272-6071
Fax: (414)276-3349
Tel: (800)822-2762
Email: info@aaaai.org
Internet: http://www.aaaai.org

National Bone Marrow Transplant Link
20411 W. 12 Mile Rd
Suite 108
Southfield, MI 48076
Tel: (248)358-1886
Fax: (248)358-1889
Tel: (800)546-5268
Email: info@nbmtlink.org
Internet: http://www.nbmtlink.org

International Patient Organization for Primary Immunodeficiencies
Firside
Main Road
Downderry
Cornwall, PL11 3LE
United Kingdom
Tel: 44 1503 250 668
Fax: 44 1503 250 668
Email: info@ipopi.org
Internet: http://www.ipopi.org/

Jeffrey Modell Foundation
747 Third Ave
34th Floor
New York, NY 10017
USA
Tel: 2128190200
Fax: 2127644180
Tel: 8664696474
Email: info@jmfworld.org
Internet: http://www.info4pi.org

European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID)
c/o Dr. Esther de Vries
Jeroen Bosch Hospital
Dept. Paediatrics
P.O. Box 90153
Hertogenbosch, 5200 ME's
Netherlands
Tel: +31 73-6992965
Fax: +31 73-6992948
Email: info@esid.org
Internet: http://www.esid.org

AutoImmunity Community

Tel: (919)-55-2-9057
Email: bandrews@autoimmunitycommunity.org
Internet: http://autoimmunitycommunity.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. �(r) (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated: 4/16/2008
Copyright 1997, 1998, 2002 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.