Common variable immunodeficiency in a family.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is mainly characterised by hypo- or agammaglobulinaemia of late onset, usually discovered in the second decade of life. In individuals CVID is associated with a variable impairment of cellular immunity and the susceptibility to microbial infection may vary as well. CVID is described in a mother and a son who suffered from serious bacterial infections. In addition, minor immunological test abnormalities of apparently healthy first degree relatives are described.