Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID): an exclusion diagnosis?

[southpawcannon]

My 54 y/o aunt was just diagnosed with this by a GP who says she is a candidate for IVIG. She has been unfortunate in the last 3 years, oddly since hysterectomy(ovaries were removed), with various illness. Yet, she has continued to smoke on on-again, off-again(a definite immune system trasher) despite having near COPD/emphysema-like episodes on a few occasions that eventually resolved.

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[IVIG]

No, CVID is not a diagnosis of exclusion. You should have low IgG levels or inadequate antibody response to antigen in addition to proper clinical symptoms to be eligible for IVIG. I would suggest that your aunt goes to see a physician board certified in allergy and immunology if the diagnosis is unclear.

You can check if the physician is board certified in a particular medical specialty by going to:
http://www.abms.org/login.asp

You should know there is a shortage of IVIG. People who have life threatening immunodeficiencies or autoimmune disorders have a hard time getting IVIG because there are physicians giving IVIG to patients who have been misdiagnosed or who have conditions for which IVIG is not indicated.