Association of kyphomelic dysplasia with severe combined immunodeficiency

Abstract

Kyphomelic dysplasia is a distinct, rare, skeletal dysplasia with short angulated femora, bowing of long bones, short ribs, narrow thorax, and metaphyseal abnormalities. While immune deficiency occurs in other short stature/short-limb skeletal dysplasias and cartilage-hair hypoplasia, it has not been described with kyphomelic dysplasia. We report on an infant with this disorder who had profound humoral and cellular immunologic abnormalities consistent with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID). The infant died at age 2 months of overwhelming cytomegalovirus pneumonia. Kyphomelic dysplasia, as with other short stature/short-limb skeletal dysplasias, can be associated with immune deficiency and immune function should be investigated when this disorder is identified.