Liver stiffness assessment by transient elastography suggests high prevalence of liver involvement in common variable immunodeficiency

Genomic profiling at a single center cracks the code in inborn errors of immunity

Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) entail a diverse group of disorders resulting from hereditary or de novo mutations in single genes, leading to immune dysregulation. This study explores the clinical utility of next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques in diagnosing monogenic immune defects. Eight patients attending the immunodeficiency clinic and with unclassified antibody deficiency were included in the analysis. Clinical records, immune characteristics, and family histories were reviewed, and a target gene panel (TGP) sequencing was performed to identify pathogenic variants. TGPs identified seven variants in TNFRSF13B (TACI), CARMIL2, STAT1, STAT3, and ORAI1 genes. These findings provided definitive diagnoses and proper prognostic assessment. Patients exhibited a wide range of clinical manifestations, including recurrent infections, autoimmune cytopenias, and organ-specific complications. The genetic diversity observed highlights the importance of genetic testing in diagnosing IEIs and tailoring treatments. This study underscores the role of TGPs in diagnosing IEIs, revealing significant genetic heterogeneity and phenotypic variability. They offer a precise tool for identifying underlying genetic defects, facilitating personalized medicine approaches, and eventually improving patient outcomes. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive genetic testing to uncover novel pathogenic variants, enhancing our understanding of immune system dysfunction. NGS is a critical tool for the management of IEI, enabling precise diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies. Despite resource limitations, the progressive affordability is likely to expand its clinical utility, ultimately improving patient care and advancing the field of immunology. In the meantime, accurate phenotypic assessment is essential for resource optimization and case prioritization.

Common variable immunodeficiency disorder (CVID)-related liver disease: assessment of the main histological aspects using novel semiquantitative scoring systems, image analysis and correlation with clinical parameters of liver stiffness and portal hypertension

AIMS

We aimed to investigate the relationship between T-cell-mediated sinusoidal injury, nodular regenerative hyperplasia like changes (NRH-LC) and fibrosis, clinical measures of fibrosis and portal hypertension, and progression rate in common variable immunodeficiency disorder (CVID)-related liver disease.

METHODS

This is a retrospective single-centre study. Liver biopsies from CVID patients with liver disease were reviewed to assess for NRH-LC, fibrosis and elastosis, including collagen and elastin proportionate areas. CD3 positive T-cells infiltration and sinusoidal endothelial changes by CD34 expression were quantified by image analysis and a semiquantitative method, respectively. These findings were correlated with liver stiffness measurements (LSM) and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG).

RESULTS

NRH-LC and pericellular elastosis were present in most biopsies (32/40 and 38/40, respectively). All biopsies showed fibrosis, which was limited to pericellular in 21/40 (52.5%) and included bridging fibrous septa in 19/40 (47.5%). 28/40 liver biopsies showed enhanced sinusoidal expression of CD34. There were more CD3 positive cells in biopsies with NRH-LC compared with those without. There was no significant correlation between LSM, HVPG and fibrosis/elastosis scores. Five of seven patients with at least two biopsies showed progression in fibrosis stage.

CONCLUSIONS

NRH-LC and fibrosis in CVID patients often coexist along with the presence of sinusoidal endothelial changes and sinusoidal lymphocytic infiltration. Fibrosis progresses over time, and significant fibrosis can be observed in young patients (<30 years old), potentially reflecting a more aggressive form of CVID-related liver disease. Further studies are necessary to investigate the relationship between histological findings, clinical measures of fibrosis and portal hypertension and outcome.

Mechanical properties of human hepatic tissues to develop liver-mimicking phantoms for medical applications

Using liver phantoms for mimicking human tissue in clinical training, disease diagnosis, and treatment planning is a common practice. The fabrication material of the liver phantom should exhibit mechanical properties similar to those of the real liver organ in the human body. This tissue-equivalent material is essential for qualitative and quantitative investigation of the liver mechanisms in producing nutrients, excretion of waste metabolites, and tissue deformity at mechanical stimulus. This paper reviews the mechanical properties of human hepatic tissues to develop liver-mimicking phantoms. These properties include viscosity, elasticity, acoustic impedance, sound speed, and attenuation. The advantages and disadvantages of the most common fabrication materials for developing liver tissue-mimicking phantoms are also highlighted. Such phantoms will give a better insight into the real tissue damage during the disease progression and preservation for transplantation. The liver tissue-mimicking phantom will raise the quality assurance of patient diagnostic and treatment precision and offer a definitive clinical trial data collection.

Common variable immunodeficiency disorder-related liver disease is common and results in portal hypertension and an increased risk of death

BACKGROUND

Common variable immunodeficiency disorder (CVID) manifests with recurrent infections and inflammatory complications, including liver disease. We report the clinical features, natural history, and outcomes of patients with CVID-related liver disease (CVID-rLD) from a tertiary immunology and hepatology center.

METHODS

Two hundred eighteen patients were identified; CVID-rLD was defined by persistently abnormal liver function tests or evidence of chronic liver disease (CLD) or portal hypertension (PHTN) by radiological or endoscopic investigation, after exclusion of other causes. Patients with CVID-rLD were investigated and managed following a joint pathway between immunology and hepatology services. Data, including clinical parameters, investigations, and outcomes, were retrospectively collected.

RESULTS

A total of 91/218 (42%) patients had evidence of CVID-rLD, and 40/91 (44%) had PHTN. Patients with CVID-rLD were more likely to have other noninfectious complications of CVID (85/91, 93.4% vs. 75/127, 59.1%, p<0.001) including interstitial lung disease, gut disease, and autoimmune cytopenias. Nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) was identified in 63.8% of liver biopsies, and fibrosis in 95.3%. Liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) were frequently elevated (median 9.95 kPa), and elevated LSM was associated with PHTN. All-cause mortality was higher in those with CVID-rLD (24/91, 26.4% vs. 14/127, 11%, p=0.003), which was the only organ complication associated with mortality (HR 2.24, 1.06-4.74, p=0.04). Factors predicting mortality in CVID-rLD included PHTN, increasing fibrosis, and LSM.

CONCLUSIONS

Liver disease is a common complication of CVID as part of complex, multi-organ involvement and is associated with high rates of PHTN and an increased hazard of mortality.

Portal hypertension in common variable immunodeficiency disorders - a single center analysis on clinical and immunological parameter in 196 patients

Background

Liver manifestations and in particular portal hypertension (PH) contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality of patients with common variable immunodeficiency disorders (CVID). Screening strategies and early detection are limited due to the lack of specific diagnostic tools.

Methods

We evaluated clinical, immunological, histological, and imaging parameters in CVID patients with clinical manifestation of portal hypertension (CVID+PH).

Results

Portal hypertension was present in 5.6% of CVID patients and was associated with high clinical burden and increased mortality (18%). Longitudinal data on clinical and immunological parameters in patients before and during clinically manifest portal hypertension revealed a growing splenomegaly and increasing gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and soluble interleukin 2 receptor (SIL-2R) levels with decreasing platelets over time. While ultrasound of the liver failed to detect signs of portal hypertension in most affected patients, transient elastography was elevated in all patients. All CVID+PH patients had reduced naïve CD45RA+CD4+ T-cells (mean of 6,2%). The frequency of severe B-lymphocytopenia (Euroclass B-) was higher in CVID+PH patients. The main histological findings included lymphocytic infiltration, nodular regenerative hyperplasia-like changes (NRH-LC), and porto(-septal) fibrosis.

Conclusion

CVID patients with lower naïve CD45RA+CD4+ T-cells or severely reduced B-cells might be at higher risk for portal hypertension. The combination of biochemical (increasing sIL-2R, GGT, and decreasing platelets) and imaging parameters (increasing splenomegaly) should raise suspicion of the beginning of portal hypertension.

Dysimmunity in common variable immunodeficiency is associated with alterations in oral, respiratory, and intestinal microbiota

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common symptomatic primary immunodeficiency characterized by decreased immunoglobulins and recurrent infections. Its aetiology remains unknown, and some patients present with severe non-infectious autoimmune or inflammatory complications with elevated associated morbimortality. Recently, intestinal dysbiosis has been proposed as a driver of immune dysregulation. In this study, we assessed the oral, respiratory, and gastrointestinal microbiota of 41 CVID patients (24 with dysimmune and 17 with infection complications) and 15 healthy volunteers using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to explore associations between microbiome profiles and CVID phenotypes. Profound differences in the composition of the microbiota in saliva, sputum, and stool were detected between dysimmune CVID patients and healthy individuals. Globally, respiratory species diversity and faecal bacterial richness were lower in CVID individuals with immune complications. Although a single species could not be identified as a robust predictor of dysimmunity, a combination of around 5-7 bacterial species in each type of sample could predict this severe phenotype with an accuracy of around 90% in the study population. Our study provides new insights into these previously unexplored but highly interrelated ecological niches among themselves and with patient profiles. Our data suggest that this disease-related systemic dysbiosis could be implicated in the immune dysregulation associated with severe cases of CVID.

Management of liver disease and portal hypertension in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)

Patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) frequently develop liver disease and associated complications, which represent an increasingly prevalent unmet medical need. The main hepatic manifestation of CVID is nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH), resulting in non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH). Liver disease is often underdiagnosed, leading to poor outcomes and decreased survival. The increasing numbers of patients with CVID who are diagnosed late with progressive liver disease underscores the importance of appropriate clinical management and treatment of liver complications. At the same time, specific guidelines for the clinical management of CVID-related liver disease are still lacking. Here, we review the epidemiology of CVID-related liver disease, reveal new insights into NRH and NCPH biology and highlight recently uncovered opportunities for NCPH diagnostics in CVID. Finally, we focus on current management of liver disease, portal hypertension and its complications - the key challenge in patients with CVID. Specifically, we review recent data regarding the role of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt and liver transplantation in clinical management. The role for anticoagulants and immunosuppressants targeting the pathogenesis of NRH will also be discussed. We propose an updated algorithm for the diagnostic work-up and treatment of NCPH in CVID. Finally, we consider future needs and therapeutic opportunities for CVID-related liver disease.

Is there a role for microbiome-based approach in common variable immunodeficiency?

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by low levels of serum immunoglobulins and increased susceptibility to infections, autoimmune disorders and cancer. CVID embraces a plethora of heterogeneous manifestations linked to complex immune dysregulation. While CVID is thought to be due to genetic defects, the exact cause of this immune disorder is unknown in the large majority of cases. Compelling evidences support a linkage between the gut microbiome and the CVID pathogenesis, therefore a potential for microbiome-based treatments to be a therapeutic pathway for this disorder. Here we discuss the potential of treating CVID patients by developing a gut microbiome-based personalized approach, including diet, prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation. We also highlight the need for a better understanding of microbiota-host interactions in CVID patients to prime the development of improved preventive strategies and specific therapeutic targets.

Cytokine dysregulation despite immunoglobulin replacement therapy in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)

Introduction

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most prevalent symptomatic primary immunodeficiency. CVID is a heterogeneous disorder with a presumed multifactorial etiology. Intravenous or subcutaneous immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IgRT) can prevent severe infections but not underlying immune dysregulation.

Methods

In this study, we evaluated the serum concentrations of proinflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and immunoregulatory cytokines (IL-10), as well as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and soluble CD14 (sCD14) in CVID individuals with infectious only (INF-CVID), and those with additional systemic autoimmune and inflammatory disorders (NIC-CVID), and healthy donors (HD).

Results

Our results showed increased serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 in both INF-CVID and NIC-CVID subjects compared to HD. However, elevations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 were significantly more marked in NIC-CVID than INF-CVID. Additionally, LPS concentrations were increased only in NIC-CVID but not in INF-CVID compared to HD. Circulating levels of sCD14 were significantly increased in NIC-CVID compared to both INF-CVID and HD.

Discussion

These findings indicate persistent cytokine dysregulation despite IgRT in individuals with CVID. Moreover, the circulating cytokine profile reveals the heterogeneity of immune dysregulation in different subgroups of CVID subjects.

Treatment of inflammatory complications in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID): current concepts and future perspectives

INTRODUCTION

Patients with Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) have a high frequency of inflammatory complications like autoimmune cytopenias, interstitial lung disease and enteropathy. These patients have poor prognosis and effective, timely and safe treatment of inflammatory complications in CVID are essential, but guidelines and consensus on therapy are often lacking.

AREAS COVERED

This review will focus on current medical treatment of inflammatory complications in CVID and point out some future perspectives based on literature indexed in PubMed. There are a number of good observational studies and case reports on treatment of specific complications but randomized controlled trials are scarce.

EXPERT OPINION

In clinical practice, the most urgent issues that need to be addressed are the preferred treatment of GLILD, enteropathy and liver disease. Treating the underlying immune dysregulation and immune exhaustion in CVID is an alternative approach that potentially could alleviate these and other organ-specific inflammatory complications. Therapies of potential interest and wider use in CVID include mTOR-inhibitors like sirolimus, JAK-inhibitors like tofacitinib, the monoclonal IL-12/23 antibody ustekinumab, the anti-BAFF antibody belimumab and abatacept. For all inflammatory complications, there is a need for prospective therapeutic trials, preferably randomized controlled trials, and multi-center collaborations with larger cohorts of patients will be essential.

Tip of the iceberg: A comprehensive review of liver disease in Inborn errors of immunity

Inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) consist of numerous rare, inherited defects of the immune system that affect about 500,000 people in the United States. As advancements in diagnosis through genetic testing and treatment with targeted immunotherapy and bone marrow transplant emerge, increasing numbers of patients survive into adulthood posing fresh clinical challenges. A large spectrum of hepatobiliary diseases now present in those with immunodeficiency diseases, leading to morbidity and mortality in this population. Awareness of these hepatobiliary diseases has lagged the improved management of the underlying disorders, leading to missed opportunities to improve clinical outcomes. This review article provides a detailed description of specific liver diseases occurring in various inborn errors of immunity. A generalized approach to diagnosis and management of hepatic complications is provided, and collaboration with hepatologists, immunologists, and pathologists is emphasized as a requirement for optimizing management and outcomes.

An Expert Opinion/Approach: Clinical Presentations, Diagnostic Considerations, and Therapeutic Options for Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Common Variable Immune Deficiency

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common symptomatic primary immunodeficiency. It is characterized by impaired B-cell differentiation. Although patients can be diagnosed with CVID anytime during their lifetime, most patients have symptoms for 5-9 years before their diagnosis. The diagnosis of CVID starts with a detailed history focusing on the infectious and noninfectious manifestations of the disease. In patients who are suspected to experience CVID, quantitative immunoglobulins (Ig) should be checked to confirm the diagnosis. IgG should be at least 2 times less than the age-specific SD along with either a low IgA or IgM and with evidence of impaired vaccine response. CVID is usually associated with infectious and/or noninfectious conditions, the latter of which can be inflammatory, autoimmune, lymphoproliferative, or malignant, among other manifestations. Ig therapy has positively affected the disease course of patients with infectious complications but has limited effect on the noninfectious manifestations because the noninfectious complications are related to immune dysregulation involving B cells and T cells rather than primarily due to antibody deficiency. When the gastrointestinal (GI) system is involved, patients with CVID may display signs and symptoms that mimic several GI conditions such as celiac disease, pernicious anemia, or inflammatory bowel diseases. The inflammatory bowel disease-like condition is usually treated with steroids, 5-aminosalicylates, thiopurines, or biologic agents to control the inflammation. In this review, the clinical presentations, diagnostic considerations, and therapeutic options for GI manifestations of CVID will be discussed to facilitate the individualized management of these often-complex patients.

Liver disease accompanied by enteropathy in common variable immunodeficiency: Common pathophysiological mechanisms

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is one of the inborn errors of immunity that have the greatest clinical impact. Rates of morbidity and mortality are higher in patients with CVID who develop liver disease than in those who do not. The main liver disorder in CVID is nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH), the cause of which remains unclear and for which there is as yet no treatment. The etiology of liver disease in CVID is determined by analyzing the liver injury and the associated conditions. The objective of this study was to compare CVID patients with and without liver–spleen axis abnormalities in terms of clinical characteristics, as well as to analyze liver and duodenal biopsies from those with portal hypertension (PH), to elucidate the pathophysiology of liver injury. Patients were divided into three groups: Those with liver disease/PH, those with isolated splenomegaly, and those without liver–spleen axis abnormalities. Clinical and biochemical data were collected. Among 141 CVID patients, 46 (32.6%) had liver disease/PH; 27 (19.1%) had isolated splenomegaly; and 68 (48.2%) had no liver–spleen axis abnormalities. Among the liver disease/PH group, patients, even those with mild or no biochemical changes, had clinical manifestations of PH, mainly splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, and esophageal varices. Duodenal celiac pattern was found to correlate with PH (p < 0.001). We identified NRH in the livers of all patients with PH (n = 11). Lymphocytic infiltration into the duodenal mucosa also correlated with PH. Electron microscopy of liver biopsy specimens showed varying degrees of lymphocytic infiltration and hepatocyte degeneration, which is a probable mechanism of lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity against hepatocytes and enterocytes. In comparison with the CVID patients without PH, those with PH were more likely to have lymphadenopathy (p < 0.001), elevated β₂-microglobulin (p < 0.001), low B-lymphocyte counts (p < 0.05), and low natural killer-lymphocyte counts (p < 0.05). In CVID patients, liver disease/PH is common and regular imaging follow-up is necessary. These patients have a distinct immunological phenotype that may predispose to liver and duodenal injury from lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. Further studies could elucidate the cause of this immune-mediated mechanism and its treatment options.

Severe Ascites in Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Liver disease is one of the possible clinical manifestations of common variable immunodeficiency and can range from mild hepatomegaly and persistent elevation of liver enzymes to cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and nodular regenerative hyperplasia. The last one is the most common histologic presentation of liver involvement by common variable immunodeficiency and its clinical spectrum can range from asymptomatic to cholestasis, liver cirrhosis, or idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension, with the severe manifestations being less recognised. We present a case of a 48-year-old woman who was referred for an internal medicine consultation for evaluation of rapidly progressing (span of three months) large-volume ascites and marked asthenia. The patient had a past medical history of common variable immunodeficiency and a recent episode of severe haemolytic anaemia. Peritoneal fluid analyses identified portal hypertension as the cause of the ascites. Abdominal Doppler ultrasound and contrasted abdominal computed tomography confirmed the presence of permeable hepatic and portal veins. Liver biopsy revealed regenerative nodular hyperplasia without cirrhosis. A diagnosis of idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension secondary to common variable immunodeficiency was made. Treatment was adjusted with considerable improvement in ascites. In conclusion, idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension is a possible and often overlooked complication in patients with common variable immunodeficiency and is an exclusion diagnosis that requires a high level of suspicion, especially in patients with ascites.

Evaluation of Laboratory and Sonographic Parameters for Detection of Portal Hypertension in Patients with Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Timely detection of portal hypertension as a manifestation in a subgroup of patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) represents a challenge since it is usually not associated with liver cirrhosis. To identify relevant markers for portal hypertension, we evaluated clinical history, laboratory parameters, and abdominal ultrasound including liver elastography and biomarkers of extracellular matrix formation. Twenty seven (6%) of 479 CVID patients presented with clinically significant portal hypertension as defined by either the presence of esophageal varices or ascites. This manifestation occurred late during the course of the disease (11.8 years after first diagnosis of CVID) and was typically part of a multiorgan disease and associated with a high mortality (11/27 patients died during follow up). The strongest association with portal hypertension was found for splenomegaly with a longitudinal diameter of > 16 cm. Similarly, most patients presented with a liver stiffness measurement (LSM) of above 6.5 kPa, and a LSM above 20 kPa was always indicative of manifest portal hypertension. Additionally, many laboratory parameters including Pro-C4 were significantly altered in patients with portal hypertension without clearly increasing the discriminatory power to detect non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in CVID. Our data suggest that a spleen size above 16 cm and an elevated liver stiffness above 6.5 kPa should prompt further evaluation of portal hypertension and its sequelae, but earlier and better liquid biomarkers of this serious secondary complication in CVID are needed.

Liver Stiffness by Transient Elastography Correlates With Degree of Portal Hypertension in Common Variable Immunodeficiency Patients With Nodular Regenerative Hyperplasia

Nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) is associated with high morbidity and mortality in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). While liver biopsy is the gold standard for NRH diagnosis, a non-invasive technique could facilitate early disease recognition, monitoring, and/or immune intervention. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of ultrasound-based transient elastography (TE) in patients with CVID to evaluate liver stiffness and compared this between patients with (N = 12) and without (N = 6) biopsy-proven NRH. Additionally, these data were compared to a cohort followed at our institution for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (N = 527), a disease for which TE has routine diagnostic use. Clinical and pathologic features of NRH were evaluated as correlates of liver stiffness, and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to define a liver stiffness cutoff with diagnostic utility for NRH among CVID patients. CVID patients with NRH had a more severe disease presentation compared to those without. This included increased autoinflammatory disease comorbidities, combined B-cell and T-cell dysfunction, and abnormal liver biochemistries (specifically an increased mean alkaline phosphatase level [proximal to TE, 250 vs. 100 U/L; p = 0.03; peak, 314 vs. 114 U/L; p = 0.02). Results of TE demonstrated a significantly elevated liver stiffness in CVID patients with NRH (mean 13.2 ± 6.2 kPa) as compared to both CVID patients without NRH (mean 4.6 ± 0.9 kPa) and non-CVID patients with NAFLD (mean 6.9 ± 5.5 kPa) (p < 0.01). No single or composite histopathologic feature of NRH correlated with liver stiffness including nodule size, nodule density, sinusoidal dilation, fibrosis, and/or lymphocytosis. In contrast, liver stiffness by TE was significantly correlated with clinical parameters of portal hypertension, including an elevated hepatic venous pressure gradient, an increased splenic longitudinal diameter, presence of varices, and presence of peripheral edema. A liver stiffness of greater than or equal to 6.2 kPa was a clinically significant cutoff for NRH in CVID patients. We propose that TE has diagnostic utility in CVID, particularly in the presence of immunophenotypic features such as combined B-cell and T-cell dysfunction, autoinflammatory comorbidities, and/or abnormal liver tests. Elevated liver stiffness by TE should raise suspicion for NRH in patients with CVID and prompt expedited evaluation by hepatology.

State-of-the-art diagnostic evaluation of common variable immunodeficiency

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the current understanding of diagnostic and postdiagnostic evaluation of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID).

DATA SOURCES

PubMed Central database.

STUDY SELECTIONS

Original research articles and review articles from 2015 to 2020 including seminal articles that shaped the diagnostic and postdiagnostic evaluation of CVID were incorporated. This work focuses on initial diagnosis of CVID, genetic evaluations, and postdiagnostic assessment of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and hepatobiliary diseases including spleen and lymph node enlargement.

RESULTS

CVID presents not only with frequent infections but also with noninfectious complications such as autoimmunity, gastrointestinal disease, chronic lung disease, granulomas, liver disease, lymphoid hyperplasia, splenomegaly, or malignancy. The risk of morbidity and mortality is higher in patients with CVID and noninfectious complications. Detailed diagnostic approaches, which may incorporate genetic testing, can aid characterization of individual CVID cases and shape treatment in some instances. Moreover, continued evaluation after CVID diagnosis is key to optimal management of this complex disorder. These postdiagnostic evaluations include pulmonary function testing, radiologic studies, and laboratory evaluations that may be conducted at frequencies determined by disease activity.

CONCLUSION

Although the diagnosis can be achieved similarly in all patients with CVID, those with noninfectious complications have distinct concerns during clinical evaluation. State-of-the-art workup of CVID with noninfectious complications typically includes genetic analysis, which may shape precision therapy, and thoughtful application of postdiagnostic tests that monitor the presence and progression of disease in the myriad of tissues that may be affected. Even with recent advancements, knowledge gaps in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of CVID persist, and continued research efforts are needed.

[Common variable immunodeficiency disorders: Part 2. Updated clinical manifestations and therapeutic management]

Common variable immunodeficiency disorders (CVID) are the most common symptomatic primary antibody deficiency in adults with an estimated prevalence of 1/25,000. The most frequent clinical manifestations are upper respiratory tract infections (including pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinusitis) predominantly with Streptococcus pneumoniae or H. influenzae. However, CVID are complicated in 20 to 30 % of cases of non-infectious manifestations which have been well characterized in recent years. Several complications can be observed including autoimmune, lymphoproliferative, granulomatous or cancerous manifestations involving one or more organs. These complications, mostly antibody-mediated cytopenias, are correlated with a decrease in the number of circulating switched memory B cells. Replacement therapy with polyvalent gammaglobulins has greatly improved the prognosis of these patients but it remains poor in the presence of digestive complications (especially in the case of chronic enteropathy and/or porto-sinusoidal vascular disease), pulmonary complications (bronchiectasis and/or granulomatous lymphocytic interstitial lung disease) and when progression to lymphoma. Much progress is still to be made, in particular on the therapeutic management of non-infectious complications which should benefit in the future from targeted treatments based on knowledge of genetics and immunology.

Heterogeneity of Liver Disease in Common Variable Immunodeficiency Disorders

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most frequent primary immunodeficiency (PID) in adulthood and is characterized by severe reduction of immunoglobulin serum levels and impaired antibody production in response to vaccines and pathogens. Beyond the susceptibility to infections, CVID encompasses a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations related to a complex immune dysregulation that also affects liver. Although about 50% CVID patients present persistently deranged liver function, burden, and nature of liver involvement have not been systematically investigated in most cohort studies published in the last decades. Therefore, the prevalence of liver disease in CVID widely varies depending on the study design and the sampling criteria. This review seeks to summarize the evidence about the most relevant causes of liver involvement in CVID, including nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH), infections and malignancies. We also describe the clinical features of liver disease in some monogenic forms of PID included in the clinical spectrum of CVID as ICOS, NFKB1, NFKB2, CTLA-4, PI3Kδ pathway, ADA2, and IL21-R genetic defects. Finally, we discuss the clinical applications of the various diagnostic tools and the possible therapeutic approaches for the management of liver involvement in the context of CVID.