Impaired nutritional status in common variable immunodeficiency patients correlates with reduced levels of serum IgA and of circulating CD4+ T lymphocytes

Abstract

Background: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) is a primary defect of the immune system. Infections, persistent diarrhoea and malabsorption may result in malnutrition, which may in turn contribute to increased morbidity. In this paper, the prevalence of malnutrition in CVI was evaluated. Patients and methods: Forty CVI patients (20 male, 20 female, aged 17-75 years) underwent anthropometric measurements from which body mass index, arm fat and muscle area were calculated. Body mass index values < 18.5 and arm fat and muscle area values < 10th percentile were considered indicative of malnutrition. Patients were divided into four groups according to circulating CD4+ T cells (lower or greater than 300 μL-1) and serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels (detectable and undetectable). Results: Body mass index < 18.5, arm fat and muscle area < 10th percentile were observed in 23%, 58% and 44%, respectively, of patients. Lower values of body mass index, arm fat and muscle area were more frequent in patients with low CD4+ cells and undetectable IgA. Low arm fat values were more frequent in patients with diarrhoea (P = 0.03). Infectious episodes were more frequent in undetectable IgA than in detectable IgA patients (P = 0.04). Conclusions: Anthropometric measurements revealed an increased rate of malnutrition in CVI patients, particularly in those with low CD4+ and undetectable IgA, suggesting that selected CVI subjects could be considered for standard or specialized nutritional support.