clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
Bruton's agammaglobulinaemia is characterised by normal immune function during the first six months, probably as a result of the presence of maternal antibody, followed by recurrent bacterial infection due principally to Staphylococci and Haemophilus influenzae.
Recurrent furunculosis, pneumonia and meningitis are typical. There may also be chronic sinusitis, bronchiectasis, and autoimmune connective tissue disease such as a rheumatoid-like arthritis which tends to affect the large joints.
Susceptibility to most fungal and viral infections is normal except for hepatitis viruses, enterovirus, echovirus - causing a fatal encephalitis - and vaccine associated poliovirus - causing paralysis.