Antibodies are special proteins made by your immune system that help protect you from infections, especially in the lungs and sinuses. Antibody deficiency is a condition where your body does not make enough of these proteins. This makes it easier to get infections like pneumonia or sinus infections.

There are two main types:

• Primary antibody deficiency – caused by genetic changes. Although it can affect children, many people are first diagnosed as adults.
• Secondary antibody deficiency – caused by another medical condition or by certain medications that weaken the immune system. Common causes are leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

With the right diagnosis and treatment, many people with antibody deficiency can stay healthy and avoid frequent infections.

Treatment depends on the person and how often they get sick. Some people only need regular check-ups to watch for infections. Others may need:

• Extra vaccines to help their body fight infections
• Antibiotics taken regularly to prevent infections
• Immune globulin therapy, which replaces the missing antibodies and helps the immune system work better
• Immune modulation or immunosuppressive medication, for patients whose immune system is overactive or causing harm

The right treatment plan is different for each patient and is decided together with their doctor.

Some blood cancers can make it harder for your body to produce antibodies. These include chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), multiple myeloma, and lymphoma.

Antibodies are proteins that help fight off infections. When your body does not make enough antibodies, you may get repeated infections such as pneumonia or sinus infections. This is called secondary antibody deficiency because it happens as a result of another illness or its treatment, like chemotherapy or other medicines that weaken the immune system.

Doctors may recommend treatments such as extra vaccines, antibiotics to prevent infections, or immune globulin therapy to replace the missing antibodies. The exact plan depends on each person’s situation.

Common variable immunodeficiency, or CVID, is one of the most common primary immune system conditions. People with CVID do not make enough antibodies, which are proteins that help the body fight infections.

Because of this, people with CVID may get repeated infections such as pneumonia, sinus infections, or ear infections. Some people may also develop autoimmune problems (when the immune system attacks the body by mistake) or swelling in the lymph nodes, spleen, or intestines.

CVID can be treated with immune globulin therapy to replace the missing antibodies. This treatment helps reduce infections and keeps the immune system working better. Doctors may also recommend vaccines, antibiotics, or other treatments depending on the person’s needs.