[Common variable immunodeficiency: a 7 cases reported]. / Déficit immunitaire commun variable: a propos de 7 cas.

BACKGROUND: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is an immune defect characterized by primary hypogammaglobulinemia. The most clinical manifestations are recurrent infection of respiratory tract. AIM: We reported seven cases of DICV which showed METHODS: We reported seven cases of CVID between 1994 and 2004, included six women and one man. RESULTS: The mean age at the first clinical symptoms is 23 years and the mean age at diagnosis is 38. Six patients presented recurrent bacterial infection particularly of the upper and the lower respiratory tract, these infections can lead to chronic diseases such as bronchiectasis. Two patients had chronic diarrhea caused by nodular lymphoid hyperplasia, we showed two cases of granulomatous: spleen tuberculosis and pulmonary sarcoidosis. The diagnostic was confirmed by protein electrophoresis and serum levels of immunoglobulin. All patients received treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, with a decrease in frequency and severity of infection episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Protein electrophoresis must be done in a young adult with recurrent low respiratory tract infections and/or diffuse bronchectasis.

[The quality of life in a Tunisian population of asthmatic patients]. / Etude de la qualite de vie chez une population Tunisienne d'asthmatiques.

Asthma is a chronic disease which disturb patient's quality of life (QL). The aim of our study is to evaluate the QL of 110 asthmatics patients aged from 18 to 70 years and the relationship between the QL and the severity of their asthma. We have used the "Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire" translated in our arabic language and adapted to our tunisian environment. The asthmatic women was more affected then the asthmatic men at the environment dimension particularly when there were exposed to pollens, strong smells and perfumes (t < 0.003). QL was not influenced by age, disease's length and the education's level of the patients. Nevertheless, QL is more altered when asthma is more severe (p < 0.0005) and corticosteroids improve the QL for all the dimensions except the environment.