ERYTHRODERMIA: THE FIRST MANIFESTATION OF COMBINED IMMUNODEFICIENCY

Abstract

Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease (TA-GVHD) is a rare complication of transfusion of nonirradiated blood components. It usually affects children in high-risk groups, including those who have primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs). It usually presents with skin, hepatic, digestive, and hematologic involvement and is normally fatal. We report a case of a nonlethal, attenuated, TA-GVHD which was the clue to the diagnosis of combined immunodeficiency. The disease was marked by the presence of a severe rash but lacked all the other usual manifestations and wasn’t fatal due to the fact that this child was under high-dose corticotherapy. This led to the survival of this child and allowed the diagnosis of a combined immunodeficiency. The definitive diagnosis of GVHD can be problematic because the clinical and histological features can mimic other conditions such as drug eruptions, viral rash or eczema.