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Health condition

CVID deep dive

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the commonest serious antibody deficiency in adults - low immunoglobulins with failed vaccine responses - typically presenting as years of recurrent chest and sinus infections before anyone measures antibody levels.

Why trust this guide

  • 01

    Editorial team

    Written by our editorial team from the UK sources listed on each page.

  • 02

    Sourced from guidance

    Checked against current NHS and UK specialist society guidance at the time of review.

  • 03

    Current for 2026

    Reviewed on 2026-09-27 with the next review scheduled for 2027-09-27.

Key facts

The essentials at a glance.

The symptoms to recognise, when to seek help, which specialist to see, and what treatment usually involves.

  • The pattern that should trigger testing: repeated bacterial chest, sinus and ear infections needing antibiotics several times a year, infections that are unusually severe or slow to clear, or bronchiectasis at any age

  • Diagnosis: low IgG with low IgA and/or IgM, plus poor antibody responses to test vaccinations, with other causes excluded - usually diagnosed between 20 and 45, often after a decade of symptoms

  • CVID is more than infections: autoimmunity (low platelets, haemolytic anaemia), gut disease, granulomas and lymphoid complications affect a substantial minority

  • Treatment is immunoglobulin replacement - lifelong, effective, and given intravenously in hospital or subcutaneously at home

  • Specialist: a consultant clinical immunologist; delayed diagnosis costs lung damage, so early referral matters

Understanding the condition

What it is and what happens next.

What causes it, how it is diagnosed, and the treatment routes available in the UK.

What it is and how it feels

Everyone gets infections; the CVID pattern is different in arithmetic and in kind - not one bad winter but every winter, chest infection after sinus infection after ear infection, each needing antibiotics, some needing hospital, and scarring accumulating in the lungs as bronchiectasis. The immune system's antibody factories fail quietly: B cells are present but cannot mature into reliable antibody production. The average diagnostic delay has historically run five to ten years, largely because immunoglobulin levels - a cheap blood test - were never sent.

Diagnosis and treatment routes

The workup is logical: total IgG, IgA and IgM, then vaccine-response testing (antibody levels before and four weeks after pneumococcal and tetanus vaccination) to prove the machinery fails on demand, with genetics increasingly identifying subgroups. Immunoglobulin replacement cuts serious infections dramatically, and complication surveillance - lungs, gut, blood counts - protects the long term. If your infection history sounds like this, ask your GP for immunoglobulins and referral to clinical immunology; NHS immunology waits vary widely, while a private immunologist appointment is typically available within about two weeks.

Seeing a specialist

Who to see, and how quickly you can be seen.

The specialist for this condition is usually a consultant clinical immunologist. Your GP can refer you on the NHS, or you can arrange a private consultation directly.

A quiet reminder

This guide is for information, not medical advice.

Your GP knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, see them - and seek urgent care for any of the emergency symptoms described above.

Frequently asked

Common questions about CVID deep dive.

Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.

  • What is common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)?

    Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common serious antibody deficiency in adults, characterised by low immunoglobulin (antibody) levels, leading to recurrent infections and, in some cases, autoimmune or inflammatory complications.

  • What causes CVID?

    CVID results from the immune system's B-cells failing to produce adequate levels of protective antibodies. In most cases the exact underlying genetic cause isn't identified, though a minority of cases are linked to specific known gene mutations.

  • What are the symptoms of CVID?

    The most common feature is recurrent bacterial infections, particularly of the sinuses, lungs, and ears. Some people also develop autoimmune conditions, chronic lung damage from repeated infections, or gut problems as part of the wider disease spectrum.

  • Is CVID dangerous?

    Yes, if not properly treated, recurrent infections can cause lasting lung damage (such as bronchiectasis), and some people develop serious autoimmune or, rarely, lymphoproliferative complications, which is why ongoing specialist monitoring matters.

  • Is CVID hereditary?

    A minority of cases are linked to identifiable inherited gene mutations, but most cases occur without a clear family pattern, and the exact cause remains unidentified in the majority of patients despite genetic testing.

  • How is CVID treated?

    The mainstay of treatment is regular immunoglobulin replacement therapy, given intravenously or subcutaneously, to restore protective antibody levels and reduce infection frequency, alongside prompt treatment of any infections that do occur.

  • Can CVID be cured?

    There's no cure, but immunoglobulin replacement therapy is highly effective at reducing infections and improving quality of life for most patients, making it a very manageable long-term condition with appropriate treatment.

  • How long does immunoglobulin treatment need to continue?

    Treatment is typically lifelong, since it replaces antibodies the body isn't making adequately on its own, with regular monitoring to ensure dosing remains appropriate over time.

  • CVID vs other antibody deficiencies - what makes it distinctive?

    CVID is characterised by broadly low levels of multiple antibody classes and is the most common serious antibody deficiency diagnosed in adulthood, distinguishing it from more specific or milder antibody deficiencies that affect only certain antibody types.

  • When should I see an immunologist about recurrent infections?

    See an immunologist if you have recurrent or unusually severe bacterial infections, particularly of the sinuses, lungs, or ears. A private immunology consultation is often available within about two weeks, compared with potentially longer NHS waiting times.