severe combined immunodeficiency disorder
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Related to severe combined immunodeficiency disorder: SCID, trimethylaminuria
severe combined immunodeficiency disorder (SCID)
A congenital immunodeficiency of both T and B LYMPHOCYTES. The condition is due to a genetic defect that causes a lack of the intracellular enzyme adenosine deaminase. As a result neither of these classes of lymphocytes can become immunologically functional and the affected child is gravely susceptible to infections of all kinds. X-linked SCID (SCID-X1) has now been successfully treated by gene therapy.Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005