[Common variable immunodeficiency: Clinical and immunological characterization of patients and homogeneous subgroup definition by means of B lymphocyte subpopulation typing].

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Common variable immunodeficiency is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by recurrent infections, hypogammaglobulinemia and defective production of specific antibodies. Abnormalities in peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations, in particular of B lymphocytes, allow the classification of patients into homogeneous groups.

OBJECTIVE:

To perform a clinical and immunological characterization and to evaluate lymphocyte subpopulations of twelve Colombian patients with common variable immunodeficiency in order to define homogeneous groups.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We reviewed medical records and evaluated serum immunoglobulins (Ig), lymphoproliferation, delayed hypersensitivity and used flow cytometry to quantify peripheral blood total lymphocyte and B cell populations.

RESULTS:

All patients had recurrent respiratory and/or gastrointestinal infections, while some also had infections affecting other systems. All patients had abnormally low serum IgG levels, while IgA and IgM levels were reduced in nine and ten patients, respectively. Lymphoproliferation to mitogen was lower in patients than in healthy controls but lymphoproliferation to specific antigen was normal in all. Flow cytometry revealed high numbers of T cells in three patients, while seven had a low CD4+/CD8+ ratio and four had reduced NK cells . Eleven patients had normal B cell counts, and eight of them also showed decreased memory B lymphocytes, and four had increased transitional or CD21 low B lymphocytes.

CONCLUSION:

Lymphocyte typing allowed assigning all but one patient to homogeneous groups according to international classification schemes, indicating the necessity of including more criteria until an ideal classification is achieved. This study will lead to a better medical monitoring of common variable immunodeficiency patients in groups at high risk of developing clinical complications.

• Authors: Alejandra Catalina Vélez, Diana María Castaño, Rubén Darío Gómez, Julio César Orrego, Marcela Moncada, José Luis Franco
• Journal: Biomedica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud (Biomedica) 2015 Jan-Mar Vol. 35 Issue 1 Pg. 101-16 ISSN: 2590-7379 [Electronic] Colombia
• Vernacular Title: Inmunodeficiencia común variable: caracterización clínica e inmunológica de pacientes e identificación de subgrupos homogéneos con base en la tipificación de subpoblaciones de linfocitos B.
• PMID: 26148039 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• B-Lymphocyte Subsets
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Common Variable Immunodeficiency (blood, diagnosis, immunology)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunophenotyping
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Young Adult