TY - JOUR T1 - Primary antibody deficiencies: recognition, clinical diagnosis and referral of patients JF - Clinical Medicine JO - Clin Med SP - 595 LP - 599 DO - 10.7861/clinmedicine.9-6-595 VL - 9 IS - 6 AU - Philip Wood A2 - Turner-Stokes, Lynne Higgins, Bernard Y1 - 2009/12/01 UR - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/9/6/595.abstract N2 - The primary antibody deficiency syndromes are a rare group of immunodeficiencies where diagnostic delay remains common due to limited awareness of the existence and heterogeneity of their presenting features. Referral for specialist assessment leads to earlier diagnosis and appropriate therapy to prevent or limit structural organ and tissue damage. Greater education of healthcare professionals is required to ensure prompt recognition and referral to specialists with expertise in the care of primary immunodeficiencies, especially since study of these rare conditions is a minor part of undergraduate and general postgraduate training. Greater awareness would lead to reduced morbidity, improved quality of life and survival outcomes in this patient group. ER -