Immunologie in de medische praktijk. XXXV. Diagnostiek bij vermoeden van een afweerstoornis: onderzoeksprotocollen voor patiënten met opportunistische of recidiverende ernstige infecties, sterke vermagering en niet-gedijen ('failure to thrive')

- With a multistage laboratory protocol immunodeficiencies can be efficiently identified.

- The article presents a diagnostic protocol that consists of three schemes.

- Scheme 1 describes the diagnostic protocol for the large group of patients with recurrent pulmonary and ENT-infections, where an antibody deficiency can occasionally be found.

- Scheme 2 presents the diagnostic protocol for the much smaller group of patients with opportunistic infections, wasting or failure to thrive. Several of these patients suffer from a severe T-lymphocyte disorder. Early diagnosis and treatment is important for the prognosis in these patients.

- Scheme 3 shows the diagnostic protocol for patients with recurrent infections of surface areas and deeper organs; these patients may suffer from a phagocyte disorder.