Limitation of Simultaneous Analysis of T-Cell Receptor and κ-Deleting Recombination Excision Circles Based on Multiplex Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction in Common Variable Immunodeficiency Patients

Aim of Study: We used a triplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to classify our common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) patients into distinct groups according to the amount of their T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) and κ-deleting recombination excision circles (KRECs). Materials and Methods: TREC and KREC analysis was performed using a multiplex real-time PCR assay. The Tand B-lymphocyte subsets were measured by flow cytometry. Results: The copy number of TRECs and KRECs was significantly reduced in CVID patients compared to healthy controls. The TREC copy number was inversely correlated with age in both healthy subjects and patients; however, the KREC copy number was inversely correlated with age only in CVID patients. Moreover, no association was seen between TREC/KREC copy number and clinical manifestations such as bronchiecReceived: March 24, 2016 Accepted after revision: September 20, 2016 Published online: December 1, 2016 Correspondence to: Prof. Dr. Reinhold E. Schmidt Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1 DE–30623 Hannover (Germany) E-Mail Schmidt.Reinhold.Ernst @ mh-hannover.de © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel