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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What are the signs and symptoms of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)?

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    Common Variable Immunodeficiency Immunology
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  • Dr Liam Beiglari

    Allergy Specialist & Immunologist

    I am a clinical immunologist and allergist. I am experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with allergic diseases, autoimmune conditions, those living … View Profile

    Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a disorder of B cell maturation. B cells are a type of white blood cell involved in making antibodies. As a result, the body does not produce effective antibody protection against infection. The most common infectious pattern is recurrent infections of the sinuses, ears and lungs. These are called "sinopulmonary infections". Some people also develop chronic gastrointestinal infections, which can cause diarrhoea. Over time, repeated or severe lung infections can contribute to bronchiectasis, where the airways become damaged and scarred. This is one reason CVID is important to diagnose. Antibody replacement therapy can reduce the recurrent infectious component of the disease and help prevent serious lung complications. CVID is not only an infection problem. It can also be associated with autoimmune complications, such as low platelets or anaemia, inflammatory lung disease, enlarged lymph nodes or spleen, and an increased risk of some cancers, particularly lymphoma. Some inflammatory complications of CVID may need treatment with immune suppression, which can seem paradoxical in an immune deficiency. In those cases, treatment is aimed at controlling harmful activation of the immune system, while antibody replacement addresses the antibody deficiency. Some patients undergo genetic testing, which can occasionally identify an underlying genetic cause. However, in many people with CVID, no single genetic cause is found.

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