Predominantly antibody deficiencies: An important underlying cause of recurrent pneumonia in adults

RATIONALE: Limited information exists concerning the causes of recurrent pneumonia in adults,particularly regarding immunodeficiencies or inborn errors of immunity.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the etiology of recurrent pneumonia in the adult population,with a focus on humoral deficiency and inborn errors of immunity.METHODS: A cross-sectional non-interventional study was conducted in Cali, Colombia, from January2019 to March 2021. Consecutive patients, aged over 14 years but under 65 years, with a history ofrecurrent pneumonia, were included after providing consent. The study involved a thorough reviewof their past medical records and radiological studies. All participants underwent complete bloodcount and serum immunoglobulin level measurements (IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE). Further testing wascarried out based on the evaluation of a clinical immunologist.RESULTS: Sixty-six (66) individuals, comprising 34 females and 32 males, were enrolled in the study. Theonset of symptoms occurred at an average age of 14 years (ranging from 5 to 36 years). The analysisrevealed that the most prevalent cause of recurrent pneumonia was inborn errors of immunity (20cases, 30.3%), followed by idiopathic (9 cases, 13.7%), bronchiectasis (7 cases, 10.7%), primary ciliarydyskinesia (6 cases, 9.0%), asthma (6 cases, 9.0%), and post-tuberculosis complications (5 cases, 7.6%).CONCLUSION: Predominantly antibody deficiencies, along with other inborn errors of immunity,were identified as an important factor contributing to recurrent pneumonia in adults. These findingshighlight the importance of these conditions as major etiological factors in the context of recurrentpneumonia in the Colombian adult population