Background
Common variable immunodeficiency may be complicated by interstitial lung disease, leading to worsened morbidity and mortality in some. While immunomodulatory treatment has efficacy, choice of patient, duration of treatment, and long-term follow-up are not available. Interstitial lung disease appears stable in certain instances, so it is not known whether all patients will develop progressive disease or require immunomodulatory therapy.
Objective
This study aims to determine if all common variable immunodeficiency patients with interstitial lung disease have physiological worsening, and if clinical and/or laboratory parameters may correlate with disease progression.
Methods
Retrospective review of medical records at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York was conducted for referred patients with common variable immunodeficiency, CT scan-confirmed interstitial lung disease, and periodic pulmonary function testing covering 20 or more months prior to immunomodulatory therapy. Fifteen patients were identified from the retrospective review and included in this study.
Results
Nine of the 15 common variable immunodeficiency patients had physiological worsening of interstitial lung disease adapted from consensus guidelines, associated with significant reductions in FEV1, FVC, and DLCO. Those with progressive lung disease also had significantly lower mean IgG levels, greater increases and highest levels of serum IgM, and more significant thrombocytopenia.
Conclusion
Interstitial lung disease resulted in physiological worsening in many, but not all subjects, and was associated with suboptimal IgG replacement. Those with worsening pulmonary function tests, elevated IgM, and severe thrombocytopenic episodes appear to be at highest risk for progressive disease. Such patients may benefit from immunomodulatory treatment.