[Chronic recurrent aphthous stomatitis in a 15-year-old carrier of x-chromosome inherited cytochrome b558-negative septic granulomatosis].

A 15-year-old girl, suffering from recurrent stomatitis since the age of 7 years, turned out to be heterozygous for x-linked cytochrome b558-negative chronic granulomatous disease. Two different populations of neutrophils were found in her peripheral blood: one normal (ca. 44%) and one cytochrome b558-negative (ca. 56%) subpopulation which was unable to produce H2O2. There was no history of chronic granulomatous disease in the maternal family line and the blood from the mother and from the grandmother contained a single normal population of neutrophils only. Therefore a recent mutation in one of the x-chromosomes of maternal or paternal origin is most likely. We wish to emphasize that the possibility of a carrier status for chronic granulomatous disease should be considered if recurrent aphthous stomatitis occurs (especially in context with discoid lupus). An easy flow cytometrical method for H2O2 measurement on the single cell level is advised as a screening test [5]. Genetic counselling is a most important consequence of the correct diagnosis.