Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS) | NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS) | NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS)

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare genetic disorder of the immune system first described by NIH scientists in the mid-1990s that affects both children and adults. In ALPS, unusually high numbers of a type of white blood cell called a lymphocyte accumulate in the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, which can lead to enlargement of these organs. ALPS can cause numerous autoimmune problems, such as anemia (low level of red blood cells), thrombocytopenia (low level of platelets), and neutropenia (low level of neutrophils, the most common type of white blood cell in humans).