Effective treatment of common variable immunodeficiency associated diarrhea

Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2009 Mar;101(3):215-9. doi: 10.4321/s1130-01082009000300009.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Common variable immunodeficiency disorder (CVID), the commonest symptomatic primary antibody deficiency syndrome, is characterised by recurrent bacterial infections, particularly of the upper and lower airways; it is also associated with an increased incidence of autoimmune and neoplastic disorders.CVID has a high prevalence of infectious, inflammatory and neoplastic gastrointestinal diseases. Up to 60% of the patients with non-treated CVID develop diarrhea and 10% associated idiopathic malabsorption with weight loss.The case of a 50-year-old woman with CVID-associated diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloating of one year s duration is reported. An exhaustive evaluation made for secondary causes of her symptoms was unrevealing; she was treated with loperamide and diet, without improvement. She later followed a course of oral budesonide for 3 months; her clinical symptoms disappeared and her quality of life improved.In conclusion, we report the case of a patient with CVID-related chronic diarrhea who responded well to oral budesonide treatment. This outcome provides the gastroenterologist with a new therapeutic option in this difficult group of patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Budesonide / therapeutic use*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Common Variable Immunodeficiency / complications*
  • Diarrhea / drug therapy*
  • Diarrhea / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Remission Induction

Substances

  • Budesonide