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'Common variable immunodeficiency' (CVID) is a group of 20-30 primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) which have a common set of symptoms but with different underlying causes.

Contents

Causes and types

Symptomology

Treatment

Research

Epidemiology

History

Reference

External links

Causes and types

CVID is believed to be a genetically determined primary immune defect; however, the underlying causes are different. The result of these defects is that the patient doesn't produce sufficient antibodies in response to exposure to pathogens. As a result, the patient's immune system fails to protect them against common bacterial and viral (and occasionally parasitic and protozoan) infections. The net result is that the patient is prone to illness. Both parts of the immune system (the cellular and humoral system) are affected, hence its classification as a ''combined'' immunodeficiency.
CVID appears to include a number of defects, some of which have been identified. For the majority, the genetic causes are still unknown. It is possible that environmental agents provoke the immune defect, due to genetic predisposition, but this has not been clarified.
See also X-linked agammaglobulinemia, a similar disorder, better characterised than CVID.
Hypogammaglobulinemia (CVID) and X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) are often intermixed by physicians, as their clinical conditions and treatment are almost identical.

Symptomology

Symptoms of CVID are:

★ hypogammaglobulinemia, or low levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA and/or IgM.

★ lack of normal levels of antibody in the serum is part of the diagnosis

★ polyarthritis, or joint pain, spread across most joints, but specifically fingers, wrists, elbows, toes, ankles and knees

★ chronic infections. (most common symptom) Specifically: