severe combined immunodeficiency disorder


severe combined immunodeficiency disorder (SCID)

A congenital immunodeficiency of both T and B LYMPHOCYTES. The condition is due to a genetic defect that causes a lack of the intracellular enzyme adenosine deaminase. As a result neither of these classes of lymphocytes can become immunologically functional and the affected child is gravely susceptible to infections of all kinds. X-linked SCID (SCID-X1) has now been successfully treated by gene therapy.