A case of Job's syndrome

An 8-year-old boy had been followed in our clinic for recurrent abscesses of his thigh and buttocks. Serum levels of IgE greater than 2000 IU/ml and impaired leukocyte chemotactic response led to the diagnosis of Job's syndrome (hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome), which is characterized by markedly elevated serum IgE, impaired neutrophil chemotaxis, chronic dermatitis, and recurrent pyogenic infections. Children with this syndrome are much more likely to develop opportunistic infections. An accurate etiological diagnosis and treatment of this specific infection in these children is mandatory. We report the first successful treatment of this syndrome with cyclosporin A. We therefore suggest that to diagnose this syndrome, quantitative IgE levels be routinely performed in children with recurrent skin or other suppurative infections.