What Is CVID?

Symptoms of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) include:  

• Frequent bacterial and viral infections of the upper airway, sinuses, and lungs
  • Pneumonia
    • Long-term lung infections may cause a chronic form of bronchitis known as bronchiectasis
  • Sinusitis
  • Ear infections
  • Gastrointestinal infections
• Gastrointestinal problems
  • Diarrhea
  • Weight loss
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain 
  • Problems absorbing nutrients from food 
• Decreased liver function
• Impaired blood flow to the liver
• Reduced levels of blood cells or platelets 
• Enlarged spleen 
• Swollen glands or lymph nodes
• Painful swollen joints in the knee, ankle, elbow, or wrist
• Clusters of white blood cells (granulomas) in the lungs, lymph nodes, liver, skin, or other organs
• Increased risk of developing some cancers

CVID may also be associated with autoimmune disorders that affect other blood cells causing low numbers of white cells or platelets, anemia, arthritis, and endocrine disorders. 

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is caused by a number of different genetic abnormalities that result in a defect in the ability of immune cells to produce normal amounts of all types of antibodies, but only a few of the abnormalities have been identified.

Risk factors for developing CVID include: 

• A DNA variation called a polymorphism in a gene known as TACI
• IgA deficiency

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is diagnosed with a patient history that includes a history of infections involving the lungs, bronchi, ears, or sinuses, and digestive symptoms. 

• Other signs of CVID may include lab tests showing very low immunoglobulin levels or the number of B cells in the blood, and low antibody responses to immunization.

Treatment for common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) includes: 

• Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions or subcutaneous (under the skin) immunoglobulin injection to partially restore immunoglobulin levels
  • Immunoglobulin treatments are administered regularly and continued throughout a person’s life
• Antibiotics to prevent and treat bacterial infections
• Additional treatments for other problems caused by CVID

Patients with CVID should not receive certain live vaccines (i.e., oral polio, shingles, smallpox, live-attenuated influenza vaccine, yellow fever, or live oral typhoid vaccines), especially those who have significantly impaired T cell function.