Immunodeficiency and Immunomonitoring

Abstract

Abstract Immunological diagnostics is a rapidly developing area in laboratory medicine. Most recently, major developments in the area of immunodeficiency and the monitoring of chronic inflammatory diseases have been observed. Regarding immuno-monitoring, recently a consensus panel for basic flow cytometry has been published together with age-related reference values. In the USA, the search for severe inherited immunodeficiency diseases (such as severe combined immunodeficiency disease, SCID) is part of neonatal screening procedures. Recently, several US states published first results which are based on the measurement of T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs). Furthermore, age-dependent reference values for the measurement of IgG subclasses and subclass-specific vaccination antibodies have been published. Monitoring of chronic inflammatory disease focuses on asthma. A novel classification based on the cellular distribution of neutrophils versus eosinophils in induced sputum has been developed. Furthermore, novel biomarkers, such as periostin, are currently under evaluation. Such novel approaches of phenotyping are now the basis of individualized therapeutic approaches in patients with (severe) asthma, who respond to certain biologicals.