Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD)

Overview

What is CGD?

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited immune system disorder caused by improperly working white blood cells, called phagocytes. With CGD, phagocytes cannot protect the body from bacterial and fungal infections.

People with CGD are highly susceptible to frequent, sometimes life-threatening, bacterial and fungal infections. Infections may develop in the lungs, skin, lymph nodes, liver, stomach and intestines, or other areas. Masses of inflammatory tissue called granulomas may develop in response to these chronic infections.

Children with CGD are often healthy at birth but develop severe infections in infancy or early childhood. In rare cases, milder forms may not be diagnosed until adulthood.

How common is CGD?

CGD is rare, as it affects an estimated 1 in 200,000 to 250,000 people worldwide. In the United States, approximately 20 people are born with CGD each year, and it is more commonly found in males.

Questions regarding your CGD therapy?

You can reach the Accredo rare disease care team, anytime, day or night, seven days a week.

24-hour Customer Service Center

Call 888-454-8860

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Symptoms

What are the symptoms of CGD?

Most children with CGD are diagnosed by the age of 5.

People with CGD experience serious bacterial or fungal infection every few years. Lung infections, including pneumonia, are common. Exposure to dead leaves, mulch or hay poses a risk of a serious type of fungal pneumonia. Other common symptoms include:

  • Spleen and liver abscesses
  • Osteomyelitis: a bone infection
  • Septic arthritis: the invasion of a joint by a bacterial infection, which causes arthritis
  • Superficial skin infections, such as cellulitis and impetigo
  • Fungal infections
  • Swelling and redness in the mouth
  • Gastrointestinal problems

How is it diagnosed?

To diagnose CGD, a physician may ask about your family medical history and order several tests including:

  • Physical exam to look for inflammation and granulomas.
  • Blood tests showing how well phagocytes produce hydrogen peroxide, an indicator that they are functioning properly.
  • Genetic testing to identify a faulty gene that causes CGD.

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Medications

The following specialty medications are available at Accredo, a specialty pharmacy for chronic granulomatous disease.

Medication Manufacturer
Actimmune® (interferon gamma-1b) Horizon Pharma, Inc.

Financing Your Care

Financial resources are available to support your drug costs, including manufacturer and community programs. You may also use the copay assistance search for additional programs. Accredo specialists are available to help you find the right program for you.

Financial Guidance

Find Support

There are many organizations that support research and advocacy for CGD. See below for a few of those organizations.

Support Organizations

Meet the Team

Accredo’s rare disease care team is dedicated to serving you, and we understand the complexity of your condition. Our specialty-trained clinicians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to answer any questions.

Why We Do It

Accredo supports patients with chronic and complex conditions and helps them live their best life. Watch our video to learn why we do what we do for our patients.

Why We Do It video transcript

24-hour Customer Service Center

Call 888-454-8860