Definition: deficiency of superoxide production by polymorphonuclear neutrophils and macrophages

Etiology

X-linked recessive or autosomal recessive inheritance (2:1)

Pathophysiology

Defective phagocytic nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase that results in:

• Impaired respiratory burst & ↓ reactive oxygen species → inhibition of phagocytic intracellular killing

Clinical features

• Recurrent, severe infections (chronic skin, lymph node, bone, respiratory, GI, and urinary tract infections) with catalase-positive organisms
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Burkholderia cepacia
  • Serratia marcescens
  • Nocardia
  • Aspergillus
• Lymphadenopathy
• Granulomas of the skin and GI/GU tract

Diagnostics

• Neutrophil assay
  • Dihydrorhodamine test (DHR): flow cytometry test showing abnormal NADPH oxidase activity (inability to metabolize dihydrorhodamine to fluorescent product, rhodamine → decreased green fluorescence)
    • The DHR assay detects the conversion of DHR (a colorless substance) to rhodamine (fluoresces green) by free radicals produced when the NADPH oxidase pathway is stimulated (eg, by a protein kinase C agonist such as phorbol myristate acetate). In unaffected patients, stimulated cells show increased intensity of fluorescence (ie, rightward shift along the x-axis), indicating appropriate NADPH activity, whereas unstimulated cells remain colorless. In patients with CGD, the stimulated cells show no increased fluorescence (ie, no oxidation of DHR).
• Nitroblue tetrazolium dye reduction test: negative

Treatment

• Life-long prophylactic antibiotics, e.g., TMP-SMX (for catalase-positive infections)
• IFN-γ therapy
• Bone marrow transplant