IgG serum levels in CVID patients during pregnancy

Background Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) is characterized by reduced serum levels of immunoglobulins (Ig) and its treatment requires regular infusion of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Eventually CVID female patients will reach reproductive age and it is known that maternofetal transplacental transport of antibodies is important to protect the child in the first months of life. The IgG present in fetal circulation comes from the mother after being actively transfered across the placenta. Although the required receptors for the transfer are expressed early on, most of it occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy and therefore this is the most important period for newborn protection. Transplacental transport of IgG is similar in pregnant women with and without CVID(Costa-Carvalho et al.).To this date, it is not established how the IVIG infusion should be conducted in order to maintain adequate IgG levels for the pregnant woman with CVID and her newborn.