What is the difference between an autoimmune disease and a hypersensitivity?
Autoimmune- an organisms “self” cells are attacked by the immune system.
Hypersensitivity- the immune system reacts in excess to a seemingly harmless substance like pollen
What is a situation where we intentionally disregulate the immune system?
Use immunosuppressives to avoid transplant rejection
What is the difference between a primary and secondary immunodeficiency?
Primary- a gene defect (inherited)
Secondary- arises from infection (HIV), autoimmunity against immune cells, malignancies, steroid/drugs
What can primary immunodeficiency lead to?
Cancer because the immune system will not be able to control infections or cancer cells
What are 4 examples of your immune system “doing too much”?
What kind of gene defect causes most PID?
single gene defect
What is the accepted prevalence of PID?
1/10,000 so about 400 babies a year in the US
Over 50% of PID are due to a defect in what?
Ab
The clinical presentation of PID depends on _______________________.
The component of the immune system that is deficient
What are the research validated warning signs that someone has a PID?
Failure to thrive in an infant is usually a defect in what structure in the immune system?
Need for IV antibiotics is usually a defect in what ?
Failure to thrive- T cell defect
IV antibiotics- phagocytic defect
What percent of WBCs is lymphocytes?
What percent of the lymphocytes are Bcells?
40% of WBC are lymphocytes
20% of lymphocytes are B cells
What percent of serum proteins are Ig?
What Ig is also found in secretions?
30% of serum proteins
IgA
What are the 3 ways that Ab participate in host defense?
What Ab crosses the placenta?
After the baby is born, when does it drop to the lowest level?
IgG–> nadir at 3-4 months
When do Ab levels reach adult levels?
10 years of age
If a baby has a defect in Ab production, when will you see clinical manifestation?
starting at about 3 months because that is when the mothers IgG no longer offers protective function
What are the five major disorders linked to faulty Ab production/B cell defect?
What is the clinical presentation of transient hypogammaglobulinemia?
Prolonged IgG nadir so at about 3 months, the child will have low IgG, but normal IgA, IgM and IgE.
They respond to vaccines
What is the clinical presentation of IgA deficiency? (age of onset, deficient Ig)
The patient will have a complete absence of IgA.
The age of onset is variable.
What is the most common B-cell defect?
IgA deficiency
What is the presentation of CVID?
low IgG, with low IgA and/or IgM IgE
Most commonly associated with GI/respiratory problems.
Inadequate response to vaccines
Why would someone develop Hyper IgM?
if the B-cell is unable to class switch from IgM to IgE IgA IgG in the germinal center
What is the other name for X-linked agammaglobulinemia? What are the characteristics of this disorder?
Bruton’s agammaglobulinemia–> the patient will have no Ab because there is a defect in BTK (bruton’s tyrosine kinase) so the B cell can’t develop