Objective:

To implement the diagnostic technique for leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD) by evaluating the expression of CD18 and CD15 in healthy patients and in a group with clinical suspicion.

Methods:

Observational, descriptive, and cross-secctional study, carried out in pediatric patients attended in the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, and patients from public hospitals with clinical suspicion of LAD were studied. The molecules CD18 and CD15 in peripheral blood leukocytes was evaluated by flow cytometry, establishing a normal range in healthy patients. The presence of LAD was established by decreased expression of CD18 or CD15.

Results:

Sixty pediatric patients were evaluated: 20 apparently healthy and 40 with clinical suspicion of leukocyte adhesion deficiency; 12 of 20 healthy patients were male (median age: 14 years) and 27 of 40 with suspected disease were female (median age: 2 years). Persistent leukocytosis and respiratory tract (32%) infections predominated. The expression range of CD18 and CD15 in healthy patients was 95%-100%, and in patients with clinical suspicion it was 0%-100%. One patient with 0% of CD18 (LAD-1) and one patient with 0% of CD15 (LAD-2) were detected.

Conclusions:

The implementation of a new diagnostic technique allowed to establish a normal range of CD18 and CD15 by flow cytometry, and it was possible to detect the first two cases of LAD in Paraguay.

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