Objective: To describe and review the autoimmune features and typical
manifestations of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS). Design: Case series
and review of the literature. Setting: Tertiary care medical center an
d pediatric referral center, Patients: The presentation, diagnosis, an
d management of two cases are reported. In addition to the typical fea
tures of WAS, the first patient had hemolytic anemia, arthritis, leuko
cytoclastic vasculitis, and colitis, The second patient had colitis an
d arthralgias. Detailed review of features and therapeutic options in
WAS as exemplified by these two patients are presented, Both patients
had bone marrow transplantation, the only definitive treatment for WAS
. Conclusions: WAS has variable clinical and autoimmune manifestations
. Diagnosis must be suspected in a boy with small, decreased number of
platelets and autoimmune problems or infections, Bone marrow transpla
ntation is the only successful mode of treatment for all aspects of WA
S, Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.