What are the clinical features of leukocyte adhesion defect?

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency (LAD) primarily affects the ability of white blood cells (leukocytes) to properly adhere to blood vessel walls and migrate to sites of infection or inflammation. One of the characteristic clinical features of LAD is delayed separation of the umbilical cord. Normally, the umbilical cord should separate within approximately one to three weeks after birth. In patients with LAD, this separation can be significantly delayed due to the impaired ability of neutrophils to respond to inflammatory mediators associated with the cord separation process.

Additionally, individuals with LAD often experience recurrent bacterial infections and may have poor wound healing, but the delayed separation of the umbilical cord is a distinctive finding that can lead to early suspicion of an underlying immunodeficiency.