The term "immunodeficiency diseases" (synonym: immunodeficiency syndromes) covers various diseases of the immune system that are characterized by a passive or irreversible disturbance of the immune function. Primary immunodeficiencies (PID) are diseases in which the immunodeficiency is congenital, familial and/or inherited. The PID group is contrasted with diseases and referred to by the generic term "secondary immunodeficiencies" in which the immunodeficiency is acquired. The best known example of this is AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).
In the case of combined T/B/(NK) cell immunodeficiencies incl. "SCID/ CID, both an antibody deficiency (reduction of immunoglobulins) and a restriction of cellular function may be present. The group is divided into:
- SCID (severe combined immunodeficiencies; in this case T- and B-cells are completely missing)
- and
- CID (less severe combined immunodeficiencies; these can also become symptomatic only in adulthood. In such cases, residual functions of the mutated proteins are present.