What is chronic granulomatous disease?
Definition Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited disorder in which white blood cells lose their ability to destroy certain bacteria and fungi. Description CGD is an X-linked genetic disease, meaning the defective gene is carried on the X chromosome (one of the sex chromosomes). Females have two copies of the X chromosome, whereas males have one X and one Y. CGD also is a recessive defect meaning that both copies of the chromosome must have the defect before it can be expressed. Females who have one X chromosome without the defect do not get this disease. Males, since they only have one X chromosome, get the disease if the defect is present. Thus, CGD affects mostly males. CGD is an immunodeficiency disorder. Patients with immunodeficiency disorders suffer frequent infections. This happens because part of their immune system isn’t working properly and the infectious microorganisms are not killed as rapidly as is normal. In CGD there is a defect in the ability of the white
