Underlying Severe Combined Variable Immunodeficiency Predisposes to Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly contagious disease and usually infects the immundeficient host. However, a little data was available regarding an approach to early diagnose the presence of underlying immunodeficiency illness at the time of diagnosis of tuberculosis. We report a case of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Illness in 26 years old female patient heading towards first line therapy failure for pulmonary tuberculosis. A patient was confirmed as having B and T cell deficiency. The diagnosis was established by low Absolute Lymphocyte Counts assessed from blood complete picture, Lymphocyte subset analysis (to evaluate actual CD marker deficient) and Immunoglobulin levels. Immunoglobulins were added along with first five drugs of anti tuberculous therapy (ATT). As a result patient started to respond well without the addition of second line drugs.