8. Immunocompromised Host Flashcards
immunocompromised host - definition
– “State in which the immune system is unable to respond appropriately and effectively to infectious microorganisms”
4 components of immune system that can be defective
- WBC
- Lymphocytes
- Complement system
- antibodies
2 types of immunodeficiencies
- Primary Immunodeficiency
- You actually have a genetic deficiency
- Secondary Immunodeficiency
- Is as a result of domething
Primary immunodeficiency
- Intrinsic or congenital defect
- Single gene defect
- Pass on from generation to generation (so families can have immunodeficiencies)
- Random error during development
Problems with
• B cells – can lead to problems with antibodies
• T cells
• Both
• Complement
• Phagocyte – phagocytosis
Defects in any of these can cause an immunodeficiency
Age of onset for Primary Immunodeficiency Disease (PID)
- Normally in younger people but not identified until later ages
- Onset < 6 months – Likely to be T cell or phagocyte defect
- Onset > 6 months to 5 years – Likely to be B cell, antibody or phagocyte defect
- Onset > 5 years and later in life – Likely to be B cell, antibody or complement or secondary immune deficiency
Secondary immunodeficiency - causes
SID can be caused due to:
• Malnutrition (eg Zinc important in maturation of B and T lymphocytes)
• Stress
• Cancer – as a result of cancer treatment
• Side effect (corticosteroids, chemotherapy, surgery, anaesthetics)
• Infection (HIV)
Why does host have Primary immunodeficiency: congenital
• Due to intrinsic gene defect (aprox 275 genes)
○ Missing proteins – complement, immunoglobulins
○ Missing cell – b cells or t cells
○ Non-functional components
Why does host have Secondary immunodeficiency: acquired
• Due to an underlying disease/ treatment
○ Decrease production/function of immune components
○ Increased loss of catabolism of immune components
3 causes of immunodeficiency
- Immunodeficiency caused by antibody defects
- Immunodeficiency caused by T cell defects
- Immunodeficiency caused by defects in phagocytosis
Immunodeficiency caused by antibody defects
• Defect in b cell development - any defect in b cells = lack in immunoglobulins
• Defect in antibody production
○ IgG2 deficiency – does not deal well with capsular orgamisms
○ Hyper IgM syndrome – IgM is normally the first antibody, IgM increase with no IgG means improper function
Immunodeficiency caused by T cell defects
• T cell defects
○ DiGeorge syndrome – gene deletion, immune system doesn’t work properly
○ Deficiencies in cell markers e.g. MHC-II
Immunodeficiency caused by T cell defects
○ Severe combined immunodeficiency disease = very bad people can die
○ Wiskott-aldrich syndrome = wbc don’t work properly
○ Ataxia telangiectasia = problems with both immune and nervous system
Immunodeficiency caused by defects in phagocytosis
• Defect in respiratory burst
Chronic granulomatous disease
• Defect in fusion of lysosome/ phagosome ○ Chediak- Higashi syndrome – fusing of phagosome and lysosome doesn't work • Defect in neutrophil production and chemotaxis LAD protein deficiencies – leukocyte adhesion deficiency
Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD
▪ Oxygen burst is normally used to kill phagocytosed microorganism – but in this disease that process doesn’t work so microorganisms can’t be cleared = a lot of infections with gram positive infections (specifically staph aureus- as this oxidative burst is normally used to clear it)
Chediak- Higashi syndrome
○ Chediak- Higashi syndrome – fusing of phagosome and lysosome doesn’t work
LAD protein deficiencies
○ LAD protein deficiencies – leukocyte adhesion deficiency lack of the leukocyte means you can respond to infection effectively
Infections suggesting underlying immune deficiency defined as “SPUR”
–S → severe
–P → persistent
–U → unusual causes
–R → recurrent
Limitations of the 10 warning signs of PID
- Patiets with different defects/ presentations
* Patients with non infectious manifestation
Types of organisms causing infection in PID
Complement deficiency
- Neisseria species,
- Haemophilus influenzae,
- streptococci,
- other capsulated bacteria
Types of organisms causing infection in PID
Phagocytic defect – e.g.. CGD
- Staphylococcus aureus,
- Pseudomonas
- Aeruginosa
- Fungal infecions = Candida and Aspergillus species
Types of organisms causing infection in PID
Antibody deficiency
- Streptococci,
- Staphylococci,
- Haemophilus influenzae,
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- Viral infections – Enteroviruses
- Protozoal infections - Giardia lamblia
Types of organisms causing infection in PID
T cell defect
- Similar to antibody deficiencies but also includes intracellular bacteria eg Salmonella typhi
- All viruses
- Fungal -Candida and Aspergillus species
- Protozoa - Pneumocystis jirovecii Toxoplasma gondii
Supportive treatment PID
- Infection prevention (prophylactic antimicrobials)
- Treat infections promptly and aggressively
- Nutrition support
- Use UV-irradiated CMV negative blood products only – to make sure products are not contaminated
- Avoid live attenuated vaccines in patients with severe PID (SCID)– as the organism can replicate and multiply
Specific treatment PID
- Regular immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG or SCIG) - iv antibodies
- SCID: Haematopoietic Stem Cell Therapy (HSCT, 90% success)
Comorbidities of PID
- Autoimmune disease and malignancies
- Organ damage (lung function assessment)
- Avoid non-essential exposure to radiation
Immunoglobulin replacement therapy
Give immunodeficient patients immunoglobulins
Goal
• Serum IgG> 8g/l
• Life long treatment