Gastrointestinal Pathologic Abnormalities in Pediatric- and Adult-Onset Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Common variable immunodeficiency is the most common form of primary symptomatic immunodeficiency. Gastrointestinal manifestations, such as gastritis, diarrhea, gastrointestinal infections, and malabsorption, may complicate the clinical history in almost 50 % of patients.

To evaluate gastrointestinal histopathological findings in pediatric- and in adult-onset common variable immunodeficiency patients.

Twenty-two patients with common variable immunodeficiency (13 children, nine adults) were retrospectively studied from a clinical and histopathological point of view.

Increased T lymphocyte infiltrate and the absence of plasma cells in duodenal lamina propria and submucosa were the most frequent findings, independently from onset age, whereas follicular lymphoid hyperplasia and polymorphonuclear infiltrate, as well as parasitic and viral infections, were only present in the adult group. Common variable immunodeficiency patients with minor gastrointestinal symptoms also presented pathological findings, mainly the absence of plasma cells, T cell infiltrate, and infections, independently of age.

Gastrointestinal pathological abnormalities are common in both pediatric- and adult-onset common variable immunodeficiency patients. Histological alterations may vary depending upon the age of onset, possibly due to duration of disease. Minor gastrointestinal symptoms are also associated with pathological findings; therefore, these should be searched in all symptomatic patients.