PURPOSE: To quantify the health related quality of life in primary immunodeficiency patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used generic health status and general psychological health questionnaires to determine the range of issues that needed to be considered in examining the burden of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). RESULTS: The health status of patients with CVID was lower than that observed in normal subjects. Overall, Role-Physical and General Health scales correlated with a poorer clinical status. Surprisingly, the duration of disease did not influence health status. Being female, older, General Health Questionnaire-positive and alexithymic proved to be major risk factors associated with a poor health status. Patients with chronic lung disease and chronic diarrhea had the lowest values on the Medical Outcome Study, Short Form SF-36 (SF-36) scales. Disease severity perception was associated with the General Health Questionnaire and alexithymia status. Limitations in daily activities as a result of lower physical health were the major problems facing common variable immunodeficiency patients. CONCLUSION: Our data underlined the importance of conducting a periodical health related quality of life assessment on patients with primary antibody deficiencies and, moreover, stressed the necessity of providing psychological support to at risk patients.
Chronic Disease ; Common Variable Immunodeficiency/*physiopathology ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; *Quality of Life ; Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo promote the awareness of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID).

METHODSReport two cases of CVID and review related literature.

RESULTSThe two CVID patients were manifested recurrent infections of respiratory and digestive tract, splenomegaly, significantly reduced serum immunoglobulin, since adolescence. They were treated with intravenous gammaglobulin, anti-infection and symptomatic therapies and the diseases were well controlled. Case 1 was diagnosed as with spleen peripheral T cell lymphoma after splenectomy. Case 2 developed nutritional megaloblastic anemia resulting from repeated digestive tract infections.

CONCLUSIONCVID is a heterogeneous group of diseases with later-onset, characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia and recurrent bacterial infections. Early diagnosis and regular treatment may improve the prognosis.

Common Variable Immunodeficiency ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Common Variable Immunodeficiency ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Pneumonia ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology