About X-linked CGD carrier females

CGD is a disorder that prevents the immune system fighting off certain infections. People with CGD carry a faulty bone marrow gene which means that white blood cells, called phagocytes, don’t work properly. As a result, people affected by CGD tend to get frequent bacterial and fungal infections, and need to take daily medication to stay healthy.

Even if they take this medication, problems can still arise, leading to serious illnesses and prolonged periods in hospital. The condition affects around four to six people in a million.

CGD is an inherited disorder which means that it is passed from parents to their children. One type of CGD is ‘X-linked’ (sex-linked) and the other three are ‘autosomal recessive’.

X-linked CGD is when the affected gene is carried on one of the X chromosomes of the mother. For each pregnancy there is a 50% chance that a son will be affected by CGD and a 50% chance that a daughter will be an X-linked carrier of CGD.

Carriers of the X-linked form of CGD appear to be prone to mouth ulcers and may develop symptoms similar to those associated with the condition lupus. They can also be slightly predisposed to infection.

Autosomal recessive CGD develops because two copies of an abnormal gene have been inherited, one from each parent.

To date there has been no evidence of health complications arising in carriers of the autorecessive form of CGD.

As someone who has just been diagnosed as a carrier of CGD, you will probably have lots of questions you want answered. You’ve come to the right place. This website has useful information to help you, whatever your needs. A good first place for you to start is the X-linked CGD carrier females section where you will find information on all aspects of being a carrier mother, including inheritance, implications and research.