Evaluation of retinol, beta-carotene and zinc in patients with diagnosis of common variable immunodeficiency

• Grant number: 08/10109-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2009
• End date: March 31, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Beatriz Tavares Costa Carvalho
• Grantee: Beatriz Tavares Costa Carvalho
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVI) is the most frequent symptomatic antibody deficiency. Approximately 50% of patients present gastrointestinal tract disturbance such as malabsorption, chronic diarrhea and failure to thrive. Nowadays vitamin A deficiency (VAD) represents a public health problem. Hypogammaglobulinemic individuals have VAD more frequently when compared to the healthy population. Zinc participates in various essential processes of immunological response. Its deficiency alters not only the cell cycle but also T and B lymphocytes maturation, proliferation and apoptosis. Vitamin A and zinc deficiency can lead to diarrhea, skin manifestations, failure to thrive and can also aggravate immunodeficiency. Consequently, it is believed that CVI patients could have a high frequency of zinc and vitamin A deficiency that could impair clinical outcome. Another hypothesis is that if this deficiency is present and is treated, patients could show a better clinical evaluation. The aim of this project is to evaluate the frequency of vitamin A, beta-carotene and zinc deficiency in patients with CVI and correlate this deficiency with: gastrointestinal disturbance, bacterial translocation and modifications in intestinal mucosal. It is a prospective and controlled study which will be done on 20 patients with CVI and 20 healthy controls from the same families. Clinical, nutritional and laboratorial tests will be carried out. (AU)