Immunodeficiency and the gut: clues to the role of the immune system in gastrointestinal disease.

Abstract

Gastrointestinal disease occurs in a high proportion of patients with primary immunodeficiency. While enteric infections are responsible for the gastrointestinal pathology in many individuals, it is now clear that infection alone is not sufficient to explain the gut pathology found in many immunodeficiencies. This article focuses on recent developments in this field and highlights the insights gained in understanding the complex relationship between immunodeficiency and the gut.