What is common variable immunodeficiency?
Common variable immunodeficiency is a disorder that is characterized by low levels of immunoglobulin antibodies. Without sufficient production and function of antibodies, the body of the person is highly sensitive to infections. It seems that most cases of common variable immunodeficiency are inherited and health problems usually begin in the first few years of life. However, it is possible for people to achieve adolescence or early adulthood before the disease begins to cause serious problems. The condition cannot be cured, but doctors can provide medicines and immunoglobulin injections to help prevent recurring infections.
The immune system produced several different types of antibodies to help fight infections and diseases. People who suffer from common variable immunodeficiency have an extremely low level of one or more specific antibodies. As a result, they are largely defenseless against pathogens. Patients are susceptible to chronic respiratory diseases, sinusitis, ear pain and rinary paths. Many peopleIt also has inflammatory bowel disorders such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. In addition, the disorder increases the likelihood of lymphoma development and other fatal cancer.
The causes of common variable immunodeficiency are not well understood, but it is clear that it is a hereditary disorder. Many children in which the condition is diagnosed has at least one parent or close family member who also suffers from problems with the immune system. The ongoing genetic research hopes to determine specific types of mutations and their location on certain chromosomes that lead to common variable immunodeficiency.
The physician may decide to test the patient for common variable immunodeficiency if he experiences frequent infections. Blood samples are collected and studied in the clinical laboratory to seek unusual production of antibodies and low levelimunnoglobulin. Other blood and fluid tests are performed to makeThey have ruled out other possible causes of symptoms such as specific autoimmune disorder or cancer. The physician may also decide to make imaging scanning to see if the lungs and other organs were damaged by repeated infections.
patients diagnosed with common variable immunodeficiency must generally receive immunoglobulin injections to help strengthen their immune systems. Since substitution therapy is only a temporary solution, many people have to receive regular injections throughout their lives. Active infections or respiratory problems are treated with antibiotics, anti -inflammatory drugs and drugs intended to regulate blood pressure. If serious infections occur with serious kidney problems, lungs or heart problems, doctors may consider organ transplantation.