In collaboration with AOU Cagliari NEWS
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), the Aou and the University of Cagliari participated in a multicenter work, where several universities and research centers were involved, which confirmed how the management of the patient and the therapies available give an important aid in the treatment of this pathology.
CVID is a rare immunological disease caused by a defect in the production of immunoglobulins and affects approximately 14 out of 100 thousand individuals, mainly aged 20 to 40. The study, entitled “Lung function trajectories in Common Variable Immunodeficiencies: an observational retrospective multicenter study”, in which two immunologists and allergists from the Policlinico Duilio Casula, professors Davide Firinu and Stefano Del Giacco, also participated as authors, was published in the journal scientific The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
“Our study – say Firinu and Del Giacco – represents innovative and detailed research on the decline of lung function in patients with CVID. This pathology is often associated with infections and other respiratory symptoms that significantly influence the quality of life and survival of patients patients”.
“For the scientific and medical community, this work has a double impact – continue the immunologists at Duilio Casula – it represents the largest study ever conducted on the respiratory functional trend in CVID patients, providing new data useful for optimizing clinical monitoring and management personalized treatment of pulmonary complications. For citizens, this research brings greater awareness of the importance of respiratory monitoring in immunological diseases, the effectiveness of current therapies for this rare disease and the need for a preventive approach to preserve lung health.”
The understanding of the evolution of lung function over time was limited until now, say the two immunologists from the AOU of Cagliari, “and the most reliable data date back to an era in which even the available therapies were not very effective and survival was limited. Among The key findings that emerged were that 64% of patients had pulmonary comorbidities, and a significant minority had subnormal lung volumes. However, the rate of annual decline in lung function was not accelerated compared to normal, suggesting that the impact of CVID on lung function, while significant, is not necessarily faster today than in healthy subjects.”
The work, conclude the two professors, “has the objective of determining the measures of pulmonary physiology in CVID, their temporal trajectory and the association with clinical and immunological parameters. 185 patients from five Italian reference centers were analyzed for immunodeficiencies, using longitudinal pulmonary function tests and radiological examinations and standardizing the data according to the most recent guidelines”.
The researchers of the Aou Giulia Costanzo and Andrea Ledda (department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari), the specialists of the School of Specialization in Allergology and Clinical Immunology, and numerous experts from universities and hospital bodies in Padua, Treviso, Rome, Turin, Brescia and Southampton (UK).
In collaboration with AOU Cagliari NEWS
How can healthcare professionals better support CVID patients based on the findings from your recent study?
As the editor of the World-Today-News website, I am pleased to present an interview about the recent study on common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) conducted by the AOU Cagliari and the University of Cagliari. Our guests today are Dr. Davide Firinu and Dr. Stefano Del Giacco, two immunologists and allergists from the Policlinico Duilio Casula who contributed to the study.
1. Can you explain to our readers what common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is and how it affects individuals diagnosed with this rare disease?
2. Your study confirms that current therapies available for CVID patients have an impact on their treatment. Could you elaborate on these treatments and their effectiveness in managing the disease?
3. What inspired you to conduct this multicenter study involving several universities and research centers worldwide?
4. Could you discuss the key findings of your study, including the prevalence of pulmonary comorbidities and the rate of decline in lung function?
5. Your work emphasizes the importance of respiratory monitoring in managing immunological diseases. Could you explain how this can benefit patients with CVID and improve their quality of life?
6. Moving forward, what are the next steps for further research on CVID and its impact on lung function and overall health?
7. How does your study contribute to the field of immunology and clinical immunology, and what implications does it have for healthcare professionals who treat patients with similar immunological conditions?
