Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is an uncommon form of T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma in which cytotoxic CD8 (see 186910)+ T cells infiltrate adipose tissue forming subcutaneous nodules. Both children and adults can be affected, with a median age at diagnosis of 36 years and a female gender bias. Most patients have accompanying systemic features such as fever or flank pain. A subset (about 20%) of patients develop hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), usually associated with CD8+ T cells rimming adipocytes in the bone marrow. An infectious agent is not identified, and the disorder is believed to result from improperly activated inflammation. Immunosuppressive therapy may be helpful; hematopoietic bone marrow transplantation is usually curative (summary by Gayden et al., 2018). For a general discussion of genetic heterogeneity of HLH, see HLH1 (267700).

Secretion of the contents of cytolytic granules at the immunologic synapse is a highly regulated process essential for lymphocyte cytotoxicity. This process requires the rapid transfer of perforin (170280)-containing lytic granules to the target cell interface, followed by their docking and fusion with the plasma membrane. Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a genetically heterogeneous condition characterized by defective cytotoxicity. For a more detailed description of FHL, see 267700.

X-linked lymphoproliferative disease (XLP) in general is characterized by an inappropriate immune response to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection leading to hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) or severe mononucleosis, dysgammaglobulinemia, and lymphoproliferative disease (malignant lymphoma). The condition primarily affects males. XLP has two recognizable subtypes, XLP1 (due to pathogenic variants in SH2D1A) and XLP2 (due to pathogenic variants in XIAP). HLH / fulminant infectious mononucleosis is the most common presentation regardless of subtype. HLH is characterized as an acute illness with prolonged and high fever, bi- or trilineage cytopenias, and hepatosplenomegaly, which is often severe or fatal. Death is generally secondary to liver failure or multisystem organ dysfunction. In those with XLP1, dys- or hypogammaglobulinemia can lead to varying degrees of humoral immune dysfunction associated with bronchiectasis and recurrent respiratory infections that, if untreated, may result in death. Lymphoproliferative disease (malignant lymphoma) and other lymphoproliferative diseases are specific to XLP1 and often develop in childhood, usually following EBV exposure. Rarer findings in those with XLP1 can include aplastic anemia, vasculitis, and lymphoid granulomatosis. Males with XLP2 are more likely to have HLH without EBV infection, recurrent episodes of HLH (which is not typically seen in those with XLP1), splenomegaly, and gastrointestinal disease, including enterocolitis and perirectal abscesses or fistulae. Rarely, individuals with XLP2 and inflammatory bowel disease have been reported to develop inflammatory liver disease, which can progress to fatal liver failure. Transient hypogammaglobulinemia has been rarely observed in those with XLP2. To date, neither lymphoproliferative disease nor common variable immunodeficiency has been reported in males with XLP2. Heterozygous females rarely have symptoms. There are, however, increasing numbers of reports of affected females with unfavorable (skewed) X-chromosome inactivation favoring the X chromosome with the pathogenic variant who develop HLH, inflammatory bowel disease, and erythema nodosum.

MPV17-related mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) maintenance defect presents in the vast majority of affected individuals as an early-onset encephalohepatopathic (hepatocerebral) disease that is typically associated with mtDNA depletion, particularly in the liver. A later-onset neuromyopathic disease characterized by myopathy and neuropathy, and associated with multiple mtDNA deletions in muscle, has also rarely been described. MPV17-related mtDNA maintenance defect, encephalohepatopathic form is characterized by: Hepatic manifestations (liver dysfunction that typically progresses to liver failure, cholestasis, hepatomegaly, and steatosis); Neurologic involvement (developmental delay, hypotonia, microcephaly, and motor and sensory peripheral neuropathy); Gastrointestinal manifestations (gastrointestinal dysmotility, feeding difficulties, and failure to thrive); and Metabolic derangements (lactic acidosis and hypoglycemia). Less frequent manifestations include renal tubulopathy, nephrocalcinosis, and hypoparathyroidism. Progressive liver disease often leads to death in infancy or early childhood. Hepatocellular carcinoma has been reported.

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis-2 (FHL2) is an autosomal recessive disorder of immune dysregulation with onset in infancy or early childhood. It is characterized clinically by fever, edema, hepatosplenomegaly, and liver dysfunction. Neurologic impairment, seizures, and ataxia are frequent. Laboratory studies show pancytopenia, coagulation abnormalities, hypofibrinogenemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. There is increased production of cytokines, such as gamma-interferon (IFNG; 147570) and TNF-alpha (191160), by hyperactivation and proliferation of T cells and macrophages. Activity of cytotoxic T cells and NK cells is reduced, consistent with a defect in cellular cytotoxicity. Bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, and liver show features of hemophagocytosis. Chemotherapy and/or immunosuppressant therapy may result in symptomatic remission, but the disorder is fatal without bone marrow transplantation (summary by Dufourcq-Lagelouse et al., 1999, Stepp et al., 1999, and Molleran Lee et al., 2004). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of FHL, see 267700.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a hyperinflammatory disorder clinically diagnosed based on the fulfillment of 5 of 8 criteria, including fever, splenomegaly, bicytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia and/or hypofibrinogenemia, hemophagocytosis, low or absent natural killer (NK) cell activity, hyperferritinemia, and high soluble IL2 receptor levels (IL2R; 147730). The disorder typically presents in infancy or early childhood. Persistent remission is rarely achieved with chemo- or immunotherapy; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only cure (summary by Muller et al., 2014). For a phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL), see 267700.

Inherited disorders of fibrinogen affect either the quantity (afibrinogenemia and hypofibrinogenemia; 202400) or the quality (dysfibrinogenemia; 616004) of the circulating fibrinogen or both (hypodysfibrinogenemia; see 616004). Afibrinogenemia is characterized by the complete absence of immunoreactive fibrinogen. Bleeding due to afibrinogenemia usually manifests in the neonatal period, with 85% of cases presenting umbilical cord bleeding, but a later age of onst is not unusual. Bleeding may occur in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary tract, or the central nervous system, with intracranial hemorrhage being reported as the major cause of death. Patients are susceptible to spontaneous rupture of the spleen. Menstruating women may experience menometrorrhagia. First-trimester abortion is common. Both arterial and venous thromboembolic complications have been reported (summary by de Moerloose and Neerman-Arbez, 2009). Hypofibrinogenemia is characterized by reduced amounts of immunoreactive fibrinogen. Patients are often heterozygous carriers of afibrinogenemia mutations and are usually asymptomatic. However, they may bleed when exposed to trauma or if they have a second associated hemostatic abnormality. Women may experience miscarriages. Liver disease occurs in rare cases (summary by de Moerloose and Neerman-Arbez, 2009).

Autoinflammation with infantile enterocolitis is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by onset of recurrent flares of autoinflammation in early infancy. Affected individuals tend to have poor overall growth and gastrointestinal symptoms in infancy associated with laboratory evidence of activated inflammation. This initial presentation is followed by recurrent febrile episodes with splenomegaly and sometimes hematologic disturbances, arthralgias, or myalgias. The disorder results from overactivation of an arm of the immune response system (Romberg et al., 2014; Canna et al., 2014).

Familial Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is a rare primary immunodeficiency characterized by a macrophage activation syndrome with an onset usually occurring within a few months or less common several years after birth.

Immunodeficiency-80 with or without congenital cardiomyopathy (IMD80) is an autosomal recessive immunologic disorder with variable manifestations. One patient with infantile-onset of chronic cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection associated with severely decreased NK cells has been reported. Another family with 3 affected fetuses showing restrictive cardiomyopathy and hypoplasia of the spleen and thymus has also been reported (summary by Baxley et al., 2021).

Congenital disorder of glycosylation type IIw (CDG2W) is an autosomal dominant metabolic disorder characterized by liver dysfunction, coagulation deficiencies, and profound abnormalities in N-glycosylation of serum specific proteins. All reported patients carry the same mutation (602671.0017) (summary by Ng et al., 2021). For an overview of congenital disorders of glycosylation, see CDG1A (212065) and CDG2A (212066).

Immunodeficiency-109 with EBV-induced lymphoproliferation (IMD109) is an autosomal recessive primary immune disorder characterized by onset of recurrent sinopulmonary infections in childhood. Affected individuals are susceptible to infection with EBV and develop EBV viremia and EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disease or B-cell lymphoma. Immunologic workup shows normal levels of T, B, and NK cells, with defective CD8+ T cell function after stimulation. Some patients may have hypogammaglobulinemia and poor antibody response to stimulation (Alosaimi et al., 2019).

A variant in the B4GALT1 gene results in lower levels of both LDL cholesterol and fibrinogen and is associated with lower levels of cardiovascular disease (Montasser et al., 2021).

Folate-responsive immunodeficiency-114 (IMD114) is an autosomal recessive immunologic disorder characterized by the onset of oral ulcers and recurrent skin and respiratory infections in early infancy. Affected individuals have lip fissures, skin sores and abscesses, genital dermatitis, chronic diarrhea, and poor overall growth. Laboratory studies show megaloblastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and lymphopenia with decreased Ig levels. Some individuals have global developmental delay, often with brain imaging abnormalities. Treatment with folic acid supplementation results in significant clinical improvement of the hematologic and immunologic abnormalities, although neurologic abnormalities, if already present, do not respond to treatment. Early intervention and treatment with folic acid supplementation may prevent or delay neurologic deficits in affected infants (Gok et al., 2023; Shiraishi et al., 2023).