COMMON VARIABLE IMMUNODEFICIENCY

Question 1

Which is the most common primary immunodeficiency?

Answer 1

Common variable immunodeficiency

Question 2

What happens in common variable immunodeficiency?

Answer 2

Several mutations in BAFFR and TACI
↳ B cell unable to differentiate into antibody producing plasma cells ↳ Decrease only in plasma cells

Question 3

Pathophysiology

Answer 3

B cell fenotypically normal
↳ Unable to differentiate into Ig-producing cells (plasma cells)
↳ Low immunoglobulins of all classes

Question 4

Clinical manifestations

Answer 4

-Recurrent infections of respiratory and GI tracts
-Elevated risk malignancies of lymphomas
**-Antibody response to vaccines is attenuated or absent **

Question 5

Diagnosis

Answer 5

-Normal B cells with low levels of plasma cells
-Low levels of immunoglobulins IgA and IgG
-Normal or elevated IgM