[Rhinosinusitis and its impact on the quality of life in patients with common variable immunodeficiency]

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is characterized by a derangement in IgG, IgM and IgA antibody production in respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, caused mainly by encapsulated bacteria. Rhinosinusitis is related to both morbidity and quality of life impairment in patients with CVID. In this article we describe the prevalence of rhinosinusitis, its localization by CT scan and the perception of disability determined by the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index (RSDI) score in a group of CVID patients.

To show the frequency of rhinosinusitis and its impact on quality of life in patients with CVID.

We included 14 CVID patients. Rhinosinusitis was diagnosed according to the criteria of the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EP3OS 2007). Patients answered the RSDI questionnaire. An axial, coronal and saggital slices of a CT scan of the paranasal sinuses were performed to all patients.

In our patientsí sample, ten of them were women. Average age was 34 years (+/-11). Eight patients (57%) had rhinosinusitis at sampling moment, 6 of them (75%) had a chronic evolution and 2 (25%) had chronic rhinosinusitis with periods of acuteness. Maxillar sinuses were the most affected, followed by the ethmoidal sinuses. Five patients were asymptomatic but had CT scan images compatible with rhinosinusitis. The most impaired RSDI domains were the physical and the functional ones.

A Little over half of our group of patients with CVID presented rhinosinusitis, which was corroborated by MDCT. The majority of cases had a chronic evolution. The association between CVID and rhinosinusitis has a negative impact on the quality of life of patients.