Experts Call for Earlier Diagnosis and Greater Awareness of Secondary Immunodeficiencies
At ESID 2026, medical experts urged for earlier diagnosis and increased public awareness of secondary immunodeficiencies (SID) due to their rising prevalence and significant health impacts.
Maastricht, Netherlands – Secondary immunodeficiencies (SID) represent a significant and often underestimated healthcare challenge, requiring earlier identification and greater awareness, experts stated at the ESID 2026 congress. With the increasing use of immunosuppressive and biologic therapies, advances in treating hematologic malignancies, and a growing number of patients exposed to conditions associated with acquired immune dysfunction, the clinical relevance of SID has risen.
During the meeting, physicians, patient representatives, and researchers emphasized the need for increased attention to the challenges faced by individuals with SID. Delayed diagnosis can result in recurrent and severe infections, hospitalizations, and impaired quality of life. Improving awareness, promoting early diagnosis, and ensuring uniform treatment standards are therefore key priorities.
Johan Prevot, Executive Director of IPOPI (International Patient Organisation for Primary Immunodeficiencies), noted that while awareness of SID is growing, significant disparities persist among countries regarding recognition, diagnosis, and patient support. He highlighted the importance of identifying and adequately supporting patients with underlying, previously undiagnosed primary immunodeficiencies (PID).
Dr. Silvia Sánchez-Ramón, Head of the Immunology Department at Hospital Universitario La Paz in Madrid, stressed that earlier diagnosis, enhanced collaboration between specialties, and broader adoption of evidence-based practices are crucial for ensuring more timely and appropriate patient management.
Kedrion Biopharma presented two posters at the congress: one on safety data for immunoglobulin therapy and another on the international expansion of the MAPPA initiative. The MAPPA study, a collaboration between AIP APS and Kedrion, collects data on the experiences of individuals with primary immunodeficiencies across Europe. Preliminary results indicated that over half of respondents received a diagnosis after age 18, and 28% reported permanent sequelae at the time of diagnosis.