Common variable immunodeficiency—an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases

Atherosclerosis, a disease of chronic inflammation of the arterial wall, is the main cause of most cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), a group of diseases characterized by frequent infections due to defective antibody production and lack of human immunoglobulins,...

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Main Authors: Juho Mattila, Niina Pitkänen, Hannu Järveläinen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1289675/full
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author Juho Mattila
Niina Pitkänen
Hannu Järveläinen
Hannu Järveläinen
author_facet Juho Mattila
Niina Pitkänen
Hannu Järveläinen
Hannu Järveläinen
author_sort Juho Mattila
collection DOAJ
description Atherosclerosis, a disease of chronic inflammation of the arterial wall, is the main cause of most cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), a group of diseases characterized by frequent infections due to defective antibody production and lack of human immunoglobulins, plays a role in immune activation and inflammation. Thus, it can be hypothesized that CVID increases the risk for atherosclerotic CVDs. On the other hand, it is also possible that CVID patients are protected from atherosclerotic CVDs based on their life-long immunoglobulin therapy. Here, we examined whether patients with CVID have an increased risk for atherosclerotic CVDs or whether they are protected from these diseases. Using an electronic patient database registry search of a population of 83 CVID patients and their age- and sex-matched, tenfold larger control population we demonstrate that CVID patients have a statistically significantly higher risk for coronary heart disease (OR 2.4, p = 0.015) and peripheral vascular disease (OR 12.5, p < 0.001). Regarding cerebrovascular disease, there was a trend towards CVID patients having more strokes or ischemic attacks, but the difference was not statistically significant (OR 2.0, p = 0.133). The combined OR for CVID patients for atherosclerotic CVDs was 2.6 (p = 0.001). CVID population had more hypertension, but smoking was more seldom. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of diabetes or levels of serum total, HDL or LDL cholesterol, or glycosylated hemoglobin A1c between CVID patients and their controls. CVID patients had infections more frequently and the OR for autoimmune diseases was 3.8 (p < 0.001). Finally, a multivariate logistic analysis showed that CVID is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic CVDs (p = 0.002). The present study demonstrates for the first time that CVID is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic CVDs. Further studies are required to fully understand the exact mechanisms behind this.
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spelling doaj.art-6ab2f3ee6efd4d2bbaa3b6239745e2d12023-11-09T16:16:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine2297-055X2023-11-011010.3389/fcvm.2023.12896751289675Common variable immunodeficiency—an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseasesJuho Mattila0Niina Pitkänen1Hannu Järveläinen2Hannu Järveläinen3Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, FinlandAuria Biobank, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, FinlandInstitute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, FinlandDepartment of Internal Medicine, Satasairaala Central Hospital, Satakunta Hospital District, Pori, FinlandAtherosclerosis, a disease of chronic inflammation of the arterial wall, is the main cause of most cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), a group of diseases characterized by frequent infections due to defective antibody production and lack of human immunoglobulins, plays a role in immune activation and inflammation. Thus, it can be hypothesized that CVID increases the risk for atherosclerotic CVDs. On the other hand, it is also possible that CVID patients are protected from atherosclerotic CVDs based on their life-long immunoglobulin therapy. Here, we examined whether patients with CVID have an increased risk for atherosclerotic CVDs or whether they are protected from these diseases. Using an electronic patient database registry search of a population of 83 CVID patients and their age- and sex-matched, tenfold larger control population we demonstrate that CVID patients have a statistically significantly higher risk for coronary heart disease (OR 2.4, p = 0.015) and peripheral vascular disease (OR 12.5, p < 0.001). Regarding cerebrovascular disease, there was a trend towards CVID patients having more strokes or ischemic attacks, but the difference was not statistically significant (OR 2.0, p = 0.133). The combined OR for CVID patients for atherosclerotic CVDs was 2.6 (p = 0.001). CVID population had more hypertension, but smoking was more seldom. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of diabetes or levels of serum total, HDL or LDL cholesterol, or glycosylated hemoglobin A1c between CVID patients and their controls. CVID patients had infections more frequently and the OR for autoimmune diseases was 3.8 (p < 0.001). Finally, a multivariate logistic analysis showed that CVID is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic CVDs (p = 0.002). The present study demonstrates for the first time that CVID is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic CVDs. Further studies are required to fully understand the exact mechanisms behind this.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1289675/fullCVIDcommon variable immunodeficiencyhypogammaglobulimeniaatheroschlerosisatherosclerosis risk factor
spellingShingle Juho Mattila
Niina Pitkänen
Hannu Järveläinen
Hannu Järveläinen
Common variable immunodeficiency—an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
CVID
common variable immunodeficiency
hypogammaglobulimenia
atheroschlerosis
atherosclerosis risk factor
title Common variable immunodeficiency—an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases
title_full Common variable immunodeficiency—an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases
title_fullStr Common variable immunodeficiency—an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases
title_full_unstemmed Common variable immunodeficiency—an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases
title_short Common variable immunodeficiency—an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases
title_sort common variable immunodeficiency an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases
topic CVID
common variable immunodeficiency
hypogammaglobulimenia
atheroschlerosis
atherosclerosis risk factor
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1289675/full
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