Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2011;39(3):128—132 www.elsevier.es/ai ORIGINAL ARTICLE Pulmonary complications in patients with antibody deficiency Beatriz T. Costa-Carvalho, Gustavo F. Wandalsen, Guilherme Pulici, Carolina Sanc Aranda, Dirceu Solé ∗ Division of Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil Received 22 December 2010; accepted 28 December 2010 Available online 19 February 2011 KEYWORDS Agammaglobuli- naemia; Common variable immunodeficiency; Humoral immunodeficiency; Bronchiectasis; Lung function Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate pulmonary complications in patients with primary antibody deficiency (X-linked agammaglobulinaemia [XLA] and common variable immunodeficiency [CVID]). Methods: Thirty patients over six years of age regularly followed in a reference out-patient clinic on primary immunodeficiency were studied. All of them have been treated with intra- venous immunoglobulin (IVIG) replacement therapy. Pulmonary complications were evaluated analysing clinical data (medical records review), lung function test (spirometry) and pulmonary imaging (chest computed tomography [CCT]). Results: Patients with normal CCT (N=14) and those with abnormal CCT (N=16) have shown no differences regarding the age at onset of symptoms, age of diagnosis, and duration of IVIG treatment. The mean number of pneumonia episodes before IVIG replacement was signifi- cantly higher among patients with abnormal CCT (4 vs 7 episodes, p=0.008). CCT abnormalities observed in 16 patients were:bronchiectasis (12/16);peribronchialthickening (3/16);air trapping (5/16); lung volume reduction (4/16); atelectasis (2/16), follicular bronchiolitis and ground-glass abnormality (2/16) and parenchyma nodule (1/16). Lung function tests showed ventilatory disturbance in 18/30: obstructive pattern in 38.8%, restrictive pattern in 44.4%, and mix pattern in 16.7%. There were no significant differences in lung function between those with and without CCT abnormalities. Negative significant correlations were observed between lung function and number of episodes of pneumonia. Chronic persistent cough was associated with a reduction in lung function. Conclusions: Pulmonary complications are not rare in patients with antibody deficiencies and they must be monitored. © 2010 SEICAP. Published by Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved. ∗ Corresponding author. Rua dos Otonis, 725, Vila Mariana, São Paulo, SP. 0301-0546/$ – see front matter © 2010 SEICAP. Published by Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved. doi: 10.1016/j.aller.2010.12.003