To the Editor:
Severe combined immunodeficiency caused by adenosine
deaminase deficiency (ADA-SCID) commonly presents with a
phenotype consisting of life-threatening infections, chronic persistent
diarrhea, and failure to thrive in the first months of life.1 In
patients with ADA-SCID, toxic metabolites will destroy the lymphocytes
and lead to absent or decreased numbers of B, T, and natural
killer cells. Patients with ADA-SCID not only have an
immunodeficiency but also other organs might be affected if increased
concentrations of the metabolite persist.2 ADA-SCID is
autosomal recessively inherited through mutations in the ADA
gene, which is located on chromosome 20q13.12.