Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffCurrently, the only known risk factor is having a family history of a primary immune deficiency disorder, which increases your risk of having primary immunodeficiency. Unlike other acquired immune system disorders you can catch — such as HIV/AIDS — a primary immunodeficiency disorder is often inherited.
- Primary immunodeficiency. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/primary_immuno.cfm. Accessed June 12, 2011.
- Specific medical therapy. In: Blaese R, et al. IDF Patient and Family Handbook for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases. 4th ed. Towson, Md.: Immune Deficiency Foundation; 2007. http://www.primaryimmune.org/publications/book_pats/patient_and_family_handbook_4th.pdf. Accessed June 12, 2011.
- Primary immunodeficiency diseases. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/topicofthemonth/0407/. Accessed June 12, 2011.
- Immunodeficiency disorders. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/print/sec13/ch164/ch164a.html. Accessed June 12, 2011.
- Fischer A, et al. Gene therapy for primary adaptive immune deficiencies. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2011;127:1356.


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