Gastrointestinal Complications in Primary Immunoglobulin Deficiencies

Abstract

Primary antibody deficiencies (PAD) comprise a broad spectrum of diseases with different pathogenesis, frequently affecting not only immunoglobulin production. Gastrointestinal manifestation is frequent and may lead to significant patient morbidity or even mortality. The causes of complicating gastrointestinal diseases may be divided into three major groups—infections, malignancies, and non-infectious inflammation of autoimmune or non-autoimmune origin. These complications can most frequently be observed in common variable immunodeficiency disorders (CVID). Complication frequency is variable; however, the prevalence increases with the disease duration. Although the majority of GIT diseases can also be observed in immunocompetent patients, in the patients with humoral immunodeficiencies, atypical pictures of these diseases can frequently be seen. In the treatment, antibody replacement is usually not effective, so similar approaches are usually used as with immunocompetent patients.