Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

Wis·kott-Al·drich syndrome 'vis-.kät-'ȯl-.drich- n an inherited usu. fatal childhood immunodeficiency disease characterized esp. by thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, recurrent infections, eczema, and abnormal bleeding

Wis·kott 'vis-.kȯt Alfred (1898-1978)

German pediatrician. A professor of pediatrics in Munich, Wiskott wrote on diseases of the respiratory system and on the pathogenesis, clinical treatment, and classification of pneumonias in early childhood.

Aldrich Robert Anderson (1917-1998)

American pediatrician. Aldrich held professorships in pediatrics at the medical schools of the University of Oregon and the University of Washington. Later he was professor of preventive medicine and comprehensive health care at the University of Colorado. His areas of research included the biochemistry of bilirubin and porphyrins, the mechanism of heme synthesis, and inborn errors of metabolism.

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an X-linked immunodeficiency syndrome characterized by eczema, thrombocytopenia, and recurrent pyogenic infection. Patients cannot produce antibodies to polysaccharide antigens and have increased susceptibility to infection with encapsulated bacteria (Haemophilus influenzae, meningococcus, pneumococcus). Typically IgM is low, IgA and IgE are elevated, and there is anergy of the skin. Many affected persons also have lymphoreticular disorders. Called also Aldrich s.