Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Common Variable Immunodeficiency: A Mentored Review

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is an umbrella term for numerous primary immunodeficiency syndromes characterized by B-cell, and sometimes T-cell, impairment. While CVID is commonly associated with recurrent sinopulmonary infections, gastrointestinal (GI) disease—often presenting atypically due to immune dysregulation—can significantly the increase morbidity and mortality of those affected.

This review summarizes the diagnostic criteria, epidemiology, and GI manifestations of CVID to increase awareness among general practitioners and gastroenterologists. This review may help facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment of affected patients.

We conducted a narrative review of the literature focusing on the GI manifestations of CVID. This review investigates the GI infections, gastric and bowel diseases, liver involvement, and malignancies associated with this immunodeficiency.

There is no universal definition for CVID, but rather several commonly used diagnostic criteria. Patients with CVID are susceptible to GI infections including those caused by Giardia, norovirus, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and cytomegalovirus. Gastric diseases such as atrophic gastritis and pernicious anemia may present atypically. Bowel involvement may include nodular lymphoid hyperplasia, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, CVID enteropathy, celiac-like disease, and inflammatory bowel-like colitis. Liver involvement can include autoimmune hepatitis, nodular regenerative hyperplasia, and viral hepatitis. In addition, patients with CVID may have a higher incidence of malignancies such as lymphoma and gastric cancer compared to the general population.

CVID is associated with a broad spectrum of infectious and noninfectious GI manifestations that can increase the morbidity and mortality of affected patients. Increased awareness of these complications may facilitate earlier diagnosis and effective management.