Combined immunodeficiency in the United States and Kuwait: Comparison of patients' characteristics and molecular diagnosis

Aim: To compare different variables among (S)CID patients diagnosed in the USA and Kuwait. Methods: Review of patients registered in The US Immune Deficiency Network registry or Kuwait National PID Registry between 2004 and 2014. Results: Totals of 98 and 69 (S)CID patients were registered during the study period in the USIDNET registry and the KNPIDR, respectively. The average annual incidence rate for the period 2004-2014 of (S)CID in children in Kuwait was 13.01/100,000 children, with an estimated occurrence of 1/7500 live births. There were differences between the two countries in the following variables: age at onset and diagnosis, family history of (S)CID, parental consanguinity, and outcome. More than 14% of (S)CID patients from USIDNET registry were diagnosed through newborn screening. Conclusions: Patients' characteristics and molecular causes of S(CID) are different between USA and Kuwait. NBS for SCID should be started in countries where the incidence of (S)CID is high.