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Chronic granulomatous disease

Last reviewed: 22 Apr 2025
Last updated: 20 May 2025

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presence of risk factors
  • history of prior infections
  • shortness of breath
  • perianal pain
  • flank pain
  • red skin lesion
  • abnormal chest examination
  • rigors
  • fever
  • chronic lymphadenopathy
  • poor growth
  • joint pain
  • facial pain
  • chorioretinal lesions
  • skin scarring
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • fatigue
  • diarrhoea
  • abdominal pain
  • cough
  • anorexia
  • arthralgias
  • nausea and vomiting
  • bloody urine
  • abnormal urinary flow
  • hepatosplenomegaly
  • family history of discoid lupus
  • oral ulcer
  • skin rash
Full details

Risk factors

  • family history of CGD
  • age <5 years
  • male sex
  • abnormally skewed X chromosome inactivation in X-linked carriers
  • myeloperoxidase and FCgammaRIIIb polymorphisms
Full details

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • FBC
  • ESR
  • CRP
  • faecal calprotectin
  • CT chest
  • CT or ultrasound for active infection
  • whole body PET scan with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)
  • MRI scan
  • colonoscopy
  • pulmonary function tests
  • nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test
  • dihydrorhodamine (DHR) 123 test
Full details

Investigations to consider

  • genetic sequencing for genes encoding NADPH oxidase components
  • Western blotting
  • flow cytometric analysis of individual NADPH oxidase components
Full details

Treatment algorithm

INITIAL

active non-life-threatening infection: on first presentation

active life-threatening infection: on first presentation

ACUTE

following initial empirical treatment

ONGOING

following resolution of acute episode

Contributors

Authors

David Lowe, MA, MB Bchir, PhD, FRCP

Consultant Clinical Immunologist

The Royal Free Hospital

London

UK

Disclosures

DL has received personal fees from Gilead for an educational video and from Merck for a roundtable discussion. He has received speaker fees from Biotest, Takeda, and Astra-Zeneca and support to attend a conference from Octapharma. DL also holds research grants from NIHR, MRC, LifeArc, GSK, and Bristol Myers Squibb and has received consultancy fees from GSK paid to his institution.

Acknowledgements

Dr David Lowe would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Adrian Thrasher, Dr Rebecca A. Marsh, and Dr Jack J. Bleesing, previous contributors to this topic. AT is an author of a number of references cited in this topic. RAM and JJB declare that they have no competing interests. Dr Rebecca A. Marsh and Dr Jack J. Bleesing wish to thank Dan Marmer, Carrie Koenig, and the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Clinical Diagnostic Immunology Lab. They also wish to thank Steven M. Holland, MD, Thomas Fleisher, MD, and Anthony Segal, MD, PhD, for helpful correspondence.

Peer reviewers

Niraj C. Patel, MD, MS

Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Duke University

Durham

NC

Disclosures

NCP is on the Speakers Bureau for Amgen.

Andrew Gennery, MD

Reader in Paediatric Immunology & HSCT

Institute of Cellular Medicine

Medical School

Newcastle University

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

UK

Disclosures

AG is an author of a reference cited in this topic. AG declares that he has no competing interests.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Thomsen IP, Smith MA, Holland SM, et al. A comprehensive approach to the management of children and adults with chronic granulomatous disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2016 Nov-Dec;4(6):1082-8. Abstract

Bonilla FA, Khan DA, Ballas ZK, et al. Practice parameter for the diagnosis and management of primary immunodeficiency. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015 Nov;136(5):1186-205.e1-78.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
  • Chronic granulomatous disease images
  • Differentials

    • leukocyte adhesion deficiency type I
    • glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
    • myeloperoxidase deficiency
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Chronic granulomatous disorder: a guide for medical professionals
    • Practice parameter for the diagnosis and management of primary immunodeficiency
    More Guidelines
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