Susceptibility to Infections in Ataxia Telangiectasia

In all patients with Ataxia telangiectasia blood was collected at each visit date to determine blood count, lymphocyte subpopulation count and immunoglobulin levels in serum (IgA, IgG, IgM, IgE), as well as alpha feto protein (AFP).

In all patients - Ataxia telangiectasia and healthy controls - a lung function measurement was done to determine vital capacity (VC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and Tiffenau index.

All patients - Ataxia telangiectasia and healthy controls - were requested to keep a symptom diary for the months September to March of the years 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 to determine days with symptoms as coughing during day and night, cold and fever, as well missing days at kindergarten/school/work, intake of medication (especially antibiotic treatment) and hospitalisations.