Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease, primarily of the joints, with autoimmune features and a complex genetic component.

Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS) is characterized by episodic skin rash, arthralgias, and fever associated with late-onset sensorineural deafness and renal amyloidosis (Dode et al., 2002).

Familial cutaneous collagenoma is a connective tissue nevus characterized by multiple, flesh-colored asymptomatic nodules distributed symmetrically on the trunk and upper arms (mainly on the upper two-thirds of the back), manifesting around adolescence. The skin biopsy reveals an accumulation of collagen fibers with reduction in the number of elastic fibers. Cardiac anomalies may be observed. Familial cutaneous collagenoma follows an autosomal dominant mode of transmission.

Most characteristically, Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) manifests as an early-onset encephalopathy that usually, but not always, results in severe intellectual and physical disability. A subgroup of infants with AGS present at birth with abnormal neurologic findings, hepatosplenomegaly, elevated liver enzymes, and thrombocytopenia, a picture highly suggestive of congenital infection. Otherwise, most affected infants present at variable times after the first few weeks of life, frequently after a period of apparently normal development. Typically, they demonstrate the subacute onset of a severe encephalopathy characterized by extreme irritability, intermittent sterile pyrexias, loss of skills, and slowing of head growth. Over time, as many as 40% develop chilblain skin lesions on the fingers, toes, and ears. It is becoming apparent that atypical, sometimes milder, cases of AGS exist, and thus the true extent of the phenotype associated with pathogenic variants in the AGS-related genes is not yet known.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), caused by defective lymphocyte homeostasis, is characterized by the following: Non-malignant lymphoproliferation (lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly with or without hypersplenism) that often improves with age. Autoimmune disease, mostly directed toward blood cells. Lifelong increased risk for both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In ALPS-FAS (the most common and best-characterized type of ALPS, associated with heterozygous germline pathogenic variants in FAS), non-malignant lymphoproliferation typically manifests in the first years of life, inexplicably waxes and wanes, and then often decreases without treatment in the second decade of life; in many affected individuals, however, neither splenomegaly nor the overall expansion of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood decreases. Although autoimmunity is often not present at the time of diagnosis or at the time of the most extensive lymphoproliferation, autoantibodies can be detected before autoimmune disease manifests clinically. In ALPS-FAS caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous (biallelic) pathogenic variants in FAS, severe lymphoproliferation occurs before, at, or shortly after birth, and usually results in death at an early age. ALPS-sFAS, resulting from somatic FAS pathogenic variants in selected cell populations, notably the alpha/beta double-negative T cells (a/ß-DNT cells), appears to be similar to ALPS-FAS resulting from heterozygous germline pathogenic variants in FAS, although lower incidence of splenectomy and lower lymphocyte counts have been reported in ALPS-sFAS and no cases of lymphoma have yet been published.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), caused by defective lymphocyte homeostasis, is characterized by the following: Non-malignant lymphoproliferation (lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly with or without hypersplenism) that often improves with age. Autoimmune disease, mostly directed toward blood cells. Lifelong increased risk for both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In ALPS-FAS (the most common and best-characterized type of ALPS, associated with heterozygous germline pathogenic variants in FAS), non-malignant lymphoproliferation typically manifests in the first years of life, inexplicably waxes and wanes, and then often decreases without treatment in the second decade of life; in many affected individuals, however, neither splenomegaly nor the overall expansion of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood decreases. Although autoimmunity is often not present at the time of diagnosis or at the time of the most extensive lymphoproliferation, autoantibodies can be detected before autoimmune disease manifests clinically. In ALPS-FAS caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous (biallelic) pathogenic variants in FAS, severe lymphoproliferation occurs before, at, or shortly after birth, and usually results in death at an early age. ALPS-sFAS, resulting from somatic FAS pathogenic variants in selected cell populations, notably the alpha/beta double-negative T cells (a/ß-DNT cells), appears to be similar to ALPS-FAS resulting from heterozygous germline pathogenic variants in FAS, although lower incidence of splenectomy and lower lymphocyte counts have been reported in ALPS-sFAS and no cases of lymphoma have yet been published.

Autoinflammatory syndrome with cytopenia, hyperzincemia, and hypercalprotectinemia (AICZC) is characterized by chronic systemic inflammation, prominent skin inflammation, arthralgias/arthritis, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, and failure to thrive. A hallmark of the disease is the extreme increase in serum concentrations of zinc and the proinflammatory alarmins MRP8 (S100A8; 123885) and MRP14 (S100A9; 123886), which make up the heterodimeric calcium- and zinc-binding protein complex calprotectin. Severe anemia and neutropenia are accompanied by thrombocytopenia in most patients, and bone marrow aspirates show dysgranulopoiesis and dyserythropoiesis. Intrafamilial variable expressivity and incomplete penetrance have been observed (summary by Holzinger et al., 2015).

Any classic complement early component deficiency in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the C4A gene.

C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is a complex ultra-rare complement-mediated renal disease caused by uncontrolled activation of the complement alternative pathway (AP) in the fluid phase (as opposed to cell surface) that is rarely inherited in a simple mendelian fashion. C3G affects individuals of all ages, with a median age at diagnosis of 23 years. Individuals with C3G typically present with hematuria, proteinuria, hematuria and proteinuria, acute nephritic syndrome or nephrotic syndrome, and low levels of the complement component C3. Spontaneous remission of C3G is uncommon, and about half of affected individuals develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD) within ten years of diagnosis, occasionally developing the late comorbidity of impaired visual acuity.

Adenosine deaminase 2 deficiency (DADA2) is a complex systemic autoinflammatory disorder in which vasculopathy/vasculitis, dysregulated immune function, and/or hematologic abnormalities may predominate. Inflammatory features include intermittent fevers, rash (often livedo racemosa/reticularis), and musculoskeletal involvement (myalgia/arthralgia, arthritis, myositis). Vasculitis, which usually begins before age ten years, may manifest as early-onset ischemic (lacunar) and/or hemorrhagic strokes, or as cutaneous or systemic polyarteritis nodosa. Hypertension and hepatosplenomegaly are often found. More severe involvement may lead to progressive central neurologic deficits (dysarthria, ataxia, cranial nerve palsies, cognitive impairment) or to ischemic injury to the kidney, intestine, and/or digits. Dysregulation of immune function can lead to immunodeficiency or autoimmunity of varying severity; lymphadenopathy may be present and some affected individuals have had lymphoproliferative disease. Hematologic disorders may begin early in life or in late adulthood, and can include lymphopenia, neutropenia, pure red cell aplasia, thrombocytopenia, or pancytopenia. Of note, both interfamilial and intrafamilial phenotypic variability (e.g., in age of onset, frequency and severity of manifestations) can be observed; also, individuals with biallelic ADA2 pathogenic variants may remain asymptomatic until adulthood or may never develop clinical manifestations of DADA2.

Most characteristically, Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) manifests as an early-onset encephalopathy that usually, but not always, results in severe intellectual and physical disability. A subgroup of infants with AGS present at birth with abnormal neurologic findings, hepatosplenomegaly, elevated liver enzymes, and thrombocytopenia, a picture highly suggestive of congenital infection. Otherwise, most affected infants present at variable times after the first few weeks of life, frequently after a period of apparently normal development. Typically, they demonstrate the subacute onset of a severe encephalopathy characterized by extreme irritability, intermittent sterile pyrexias, loss of skills, and slowing of head growth. Over time, as many as 40% develop chilblain skin lesions on the fingers, toes, and ears. It is becoming apparent that atypical, sometimes milder, cases of AGS exist, and thus the true extent of the phenotype associated with pathogenic variants in the AGS-related genes is not yet known.

Autosomal recessive autoinflammation, panniculitis, and dermatosis syndrome (AIPDSB) is an autoinflammatory disease characterized by neonatal onset of recurrent fever, erythematous rash with painful nodules, painful joints, and lipodystrophy. Additional features may include diarrhea, increased serum C-reactive protein (CRP; 123260), leukocytosis, and neutrophilia in the absence of any infection. Patients exhibit no overt primary immunodeficiency (Damgaard et al., 2016 and Zhou et al., 2016).

Immunodeficiency-71 with inflammatory disease and congenital thrombocytopenia (IMD71) is an autosomal recessive immunologic disorder characterized by the onset of recurrent infections and inflammatory features such as vasculitis and eczema in infancy or early childhood. Infectious agents include bacteria and viruses. Laboratory findings are variable, but usually show thrombocytopenia, sometimes with abnormal platelet morphology, increased serum IgE, IgA, or IgM, leukocytosis, decreased or increased T lymphocytes, and increased eosinophils. Detailed studies show impaired neutrophil and T-cell chemotaxis, as well as impaired T-cell activation due to defects in F-actin (see 102610) polymerization (summary by Brigida et al., 2018).

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.

Autoinflammation with arthritis and vasculitis (AIARV) is an autosomal recessive complex immunologic disorder with onset of symptoms in infancy or early childhood. Affected individuals have recurrent fever, erythematous skin rashes, vasculitis, oral aphthous lesions, and polyarthritis. Laboratory studies are consistent with an inflammatory state. Although patients may have recurrent infections, the infections are not severe. Additional features may include poor overall growth, microcytic anemia, mildly impaired intellectual development, seizures, and variable brain imaging abnormalities. Treatment with TNF (191160) inhibitors may result in clinical improvement (Taft et al., 2021).