Primary Immunodeficiency

When someone is born with a faulty immune system in which either a part is missing or does not function properly, they are said to have a primary immunodeficiency or PID. 

There are more than 70 different types of primary immunodeficiency including Common Variable ImmunoDeficiency (CVID), X-linked Agammaglobulinaemia (XLA) or Bruton’s disease and selective IgA deficiency.

Some types of PID are quite common, for example selective IgA deficiency may occur in 1 in 500 people, but others may be extremely rare. Similarly some conditions are life-threatening whereas others may cause few, if any, symptoms.

When the body produces insufficient antibody to fight infections normal immunoglobulin may be given regularly to replace missing antibodies. This replacement therapy enables many PID patients to live a full and normal life.