SCID, Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, is a primary immune deficiency. The defining characteristic is usually a severe defect in both the T- & B-lymphocyte systems. This usually results in the onset of one or more serious infections within the first few months of life. These infections are usually serious, and may even be life threatening, they may include pneumonia, meningitis or bloodstream infections.

"This once-fatal disease should be now seen as a pediatric emergency, a condition that needs immediate diagnosis and treatment. says Dr. Rebecca Buckley, chief of Duke's division of pediatric allergy and immunology. "Early diagnosis of SCID is rare because doctors do not routinely perform a test in newborns to count white blood cells. Such a blood test could pick up children with SCID as well as those with other serious immune deficiencies that would not be apparent until the child developed an infection. A simple blood test could allow us to treat, and most likely cure, SCID in an infant at a reasonable cost. If found later, less effective treatment can run into the millions." Buckley states, "What we're saying is that essentially every baby with SCID could be cured if diagnosed early enough. SCID should be considered a pediatric emergency."

SCID is often called "bubble boy disease". SCID became widely known during the 1970's and 80's, when the world learned of David Vetter, a boy with X-linked SCID, who lived for 12 years in a plastic, germ-free bubble.

There are several forms of SCID. The most common type is linked to the X chromosome, making this form affect only males. Other forms of SCID usually follow an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern or are the result of spontaneous mutations. One of these other forms is linked to a deficiency of the enzyme adenosine deaminase (ADA). Other cases of SCID are caused by a variety of other defects.

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