Health condition
CVID
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) - the most frequent serious antibody deficiency of adults - causes recurrent infections from low IgG, and typically waits years for diagnosis; immunoglobulin replacement transforms it, and monitoring its non-infectious features completes care.
Why trust this guide
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Editorial team
Written by our editorial team from the UK sources listed on each page.
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Sourced from guidance
Checked against current NHS and UK specialist society guidance at the time of review.
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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.
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The classic story: years of recurrent sinusitis, bronchitis and pneumonias, often with a diagnostic delay of 5-10 years and accumulated airway damage before someone measures immunoglobulins
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Diagnosis: substantially reduced IgG with low IgA and/or IgM, poor vaccine responses, and exclusion of secondary causes - typical onset in the 20s-40s
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Treatment: lifelong immunoglobulin replacement (intravenous every 3-4 weeks or subcutaneous weekly at home), dramatically reducing infections
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Specialist: a consultant immunologist for life; CVID's autoimmune, granulomatous, gut and lymphoproliferative complications need surveillance alongside infection control - around a quarter experience these non-infectious features
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
CVID is what antibody failure looks like when it arrives quietly in adulthood: B cells are present but antibody production falters, IgG falls with IgA and often IgM, and the owner cycles through winters of sinusitis, bronchitis and pneumonia - each treated on its own merits, none prompting the £10 blood test that would explain the pattern - while bronchiectasis and hearing-scarring ear disease accumulate; the average diagnostic odyssey runs the better part of a decade, which is the strongest argument for immunoglobulin testing in anyone with recurrent bacterial respiratory infection. Diagnosis assembles reduced IgG with companion-class reductions, demonstrably poor responses to test vaccination, and the exclusion of the secondary mimics (medications, protein loss, lymphoid malignancy); and unusually for chronic disease, the moment of diagnosis is often experienced as relief - the pattern finally has a name and, more importantly, a genuinely effective treatment.
Diagnosis and treatment routes
Immunoglobulin replacement - pooled IgG delivered intravenously in clinic every three to four weeks or subcutaneously at home weekly, per preference and lifestyle - restores protective antibody levels, cuts serious infections dramatically, and protects the airways from further destruction, with dosing individualised against trough levels and infection experience; airway clearance physiotherapy, prompt targeted antibiotics for breakthrough infections and annual imaging surveillance of established bronchiectasis complete the infection axis. The second axis is CVID's own character: roughly a quarter of patients develop non-infectious complications - autoimmune cytopenias, granulomatous-lymphocytic lung disease, enteropathy with malabsorption, nodular lymphoid hyperplasia and a raised lymphoma risk - which is why lifelong immunology follow-up involves scheduled bloods, lung function and thoughtful imaging rather than replacement alone, and why unexplained new symptoms in CVID warrant curiosity rather than attribution. Live vaccines are avoided, family testing is offered, and life expectancy for uncomplicated, well-replaced CVID now approaches the ordinary - an outcome built almost entirely on the diagnosis being made. In many parts of the UK, routine NHS referrals for this kind of problem currently take 20-45+ weeks, whereas an initial appointment with a private consultant is typically available within around two weeks.
Seeing a specialist
Who to see, and how quickly you can be seen.
The specialist for this condition is usually a consultant 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.
Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.
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What is CVID?
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most frequent serious antibody deficiency of adulthood, causing recurrent infections due to the immune system not producing enough protective antibodies.
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What causes CVID?
In most cases, the exact underlying cause isn't identified, though it results from B-cells (antibody-producing immune cells) not functioning properly. A minority of cases are linked to specific identifiable genetic mutations.
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What are the symptoms of CVID?
The most common symptom is recurrent bacterial infections, particularly affecting the sinuses, lungs, and ears. Some people also experience autoimmune conditions or gut symptoms as part of the broader disease pattern.
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Is CVID dangerous?
If untreated, recurrent infections can cause lasting damage, such as bronchiectasis (permanent lung damage from repeated infections), and some patients develop autoimmune or other complications, so ongoing treatment and monitoring matter.
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Is CVID hereditary?
Most cases occur without a clear inherited pattern, though a small proportion are linked to specific known genetic mutations. Genetic testing may be offered depending on individual and family history.
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Can CVID be cured?
There's no cure currently, but immunoglobulin replacement therapy very effectively controls the main problem (recurrent infections) for most patients, making it a well-managed long-term condition.
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How is CVID treated?
The main treatment is regular immunoglobulin replacement therapy (given intravenously or subcutaneously), alongside prompt treatment of any infections and monitoring for associated complications such as autoimmune disease or lung damage.
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How long does treatment for CVID last?
Treatment with immunoglobulin replacement is typically lifelong, since the underlying antibody deficiency persists, with regular specialist follow-up to monitor effectiveness and adjust treatment as needed.
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CVID vs a normal tendency to catch colds - how can you tell the difference?
CVID causes more frequent, more severe, or unusually persistent bacterial infections (rather than typical viral colds), and is confirmed through blood tests showing low antibody levels - a pattern well beyond normal variation in how often people catch minor illnesses.
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When should I see an immunologist about recurrent infections?
See an immunologist if you have recurrent or severe bacterial infections, particularly affecting the sinuses, lungs, or ears repeatedly. A private immunology consultation is often available within about two weeks, compared with potentially longer NHS waits.