Allergy/Immunology Flashcards
Name 4 functions of T cells
Delayed type hypersensitivity (type IV)
Cytotoxic host-defense functions
Immunoregulatory functions
Respond to MHC class I and class II APCs
What diseases can be associated with recurrent candida infection?
Diabetes mellitus
HIV infection
Patients treated with systemic or inhaled glucocorticoids Prolonged courses of antibiotics
CMCC
What is chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis?
- Recurrent Candida
Persistent infections of the skin, nails and mucous membranes with candida species
Disseminated infection RARE - Autoimmunity
- Cytopenias - Endocrinopathies
What endocrine abnormalities can be associated with CMC?
Hypoparathyroidism Hypothyroidism Addison's T1DM Gonadal dysfunction
What is the most common immunodeficiency causing recurrent meningococcal meningitis?
Late complement deficiency (C5, C6, C7, C8)
Susceptible to Neisseria meningococcal meningitis or extragenital gonococcal infection
What do C1-4 deficiencies typically present with?
Rheumatologic/lupus-like disorders
What is the most common complement deficiency?
C2
What diseases/infections are associated with C2 deficiency?
SLE-like presentation Recurrent pyogenic infections with encapsulated bacteria HSP RA Dermatomyositis
What are the clinical features of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome?
Eczema
Thrombocytopenia
Sinopulmonary infections, sepsis/meningitis, PJP, herpes
Watery diarrhea (can be bloody) and petechiae in the first few months of life
Impaired ability to make specific antibodies especially to polysaccharide antigen
Later manifestations: Autoimmunity, EBV-associated malignancies
What laboratory abnormalities do you see in Wiskott-Aldrich?
Thrombocytopenia
Low to normal IgG and IgM and high IgA and IgE
Impaired B-cell response to polysaccharide antigens
How is Wiskott-Aldrich inherited?
X-linked
What is the most cost effective screening test for T-cell defect?
Candida skin test
Intradermal skin testing with candida to evaluate delayed hypersensitivity
When does severe combined immunodeficiency typically present?
4-12 months of age, but can present earlier
What are the clinical features of SCID?
Oral Thrush Persistent/recurrent bacterial, fungal, viral infections Chronic diarrhea Pneumonitis PCP infection Disseminated CMV FTT Small thymus Absent lymphoid tissue (except Omenn’s)
Name 2 SCID diseases
ADA deficiency (defect in purine metabolism)
Omenn’s syndrome (skin rash, HSM, short limbs, lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia, fever)
How do you treat SCID?
BMT
Peg-ADA
What is the immunologic abnormality in CVID?
Inability of B cells to differentiate into plasma cells capable of secreting Ig
Hypogammaglobulinemia
Normal number of B cells
Poor or absent response to immunizations (despite having normal number of B-cells)
Normal or near normal cellular immunity
What are the clinical features of CVID?
Recurrent Infections:
- Sinopulmonary and chronic GI infections
- H.influenzae, streptococcus pneumoniae, staph
- Mycoplasma, enteroviruses, Giardia
Respiratory:
- Bronchiectasis
- Pulmonary fibrosis with granulomas
Allergic disease:
-Food allergy, eczema, urticaria, rhinitis
Gastrointestinal:
- IBD picture - Diarrhea, weight loss, malabsorption
- Giardia
- Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the small bowel
- Chronic pangastritis
- FTT
Autoimmune disease
- Autoimmune cytopenias
- Evans syndrome
Granulomatous inflammation
-Lung, liver, spleen, skin
Malignancy
What laboratory features do you see in CVID?
Autoimmune cytopenias
Decreased serum immunoglobulins
Specific antibody titres decreased/absent
Impaired vaccine response
T-cell abnormalities in up to 50% of patients
(Reversed CD4/8 ratio, decreased function, restricted repertoire)
Usually normal number of B-cells
What types of infections are seen in X-linked agammaglobulinemia?
Sinopulmonary GI infection Sepsis Septic/non-infectious arthritis Meningitis PCP infection S. pneumonia, Hib, enterovirus
What is the immunologic abnormality in X-linked agammaglobulinemia?
Lack of B cells, plasma cells (this is what differentiates it from CVID)
No immunoglobulin
Abnormal lymph tissue
BM shows arrest of B cell maturation
What is the most common mutation in X-linked agammaglobulinemia?
90 - 95% of patients with XLA have a BTK mutation
How do you treat X-linked agammaglobulinemia?
Ig replacement
Monitor for IgG levels
Aggressive antibiotic treatement of infections
PFTs
What are the clinical features of ataxia telangiectasia?
Progressive cerebellar ataxia
- Earliest manifestation
- Confined to wheelchair by 10-12 years of age
Telangectasias (eyes, ears)
-Appear at age 3-5
Recurrent sinopulmonary infections
Progressive pulmonary disease (multifactorial)
Increased risk of malignancy (mostly leukemia, lymphoma)
What are the immunologic abnormalities in ataxia telangiectasia?
50% - 80% have absent IgA
Reduced ability to make antibodies (esp to polysaccharide antigens)
Slightly decreased T-cell numbers (not usually clinically significant)
Decreased proliferations
What is the most common laboratory abnormality in ataxia telangiectasia?
Absent IgA
What 3 features are required to have GVHD?
Histocompatibility differences between the graft donor and recipient
Presence of immunocompetent cells in the graft that can respond to host antigens
Immunoincompetence of the host, preventing rejection
What is the time frame for acute GVHD?
14 (engraftment) to 100 days after transplantation
What are the clinical features of acute GVHD?
Skin
Liver
GI (diarrhea)
How do you treat acute GVHD?
Steroids
CSA
MTX
What is the timeframe for chronic GVHD?
3 to 15 months after transplantation and may last for years
What are the clinical features of chronic GVHD?
Progressive systemic sclerosis
Skin-mucous membranes may become dry
Hematologic-anemia thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia
GI-esophagus, small intestine (causing weight loss)
Liver-cholestatic liver disease
Lungs-restrictive pulmonary defects
How do you treat chronic GVHD?
Prednisone
CSA
Biologics
What is the inheritance pattern of CGD?
Majority x-linked
Some AR
How do you diagnose CGD?
NOBI is test of choice
How do you treat CGD?
Aggressive antibiotic therapy (itraconazole and septra prophylaxis)
BMT if not responding to therapy, sibling donor
What are the clinical features of CGD?
Respiratory infections Abscesses Hepatomegaly Suppurative lymphadenopathy S. aureus, serratia, aspergillus, nocardia, burkholderia
Which component of penicillin is responsible for a) most allergies b) anaphylaxis?
a) Major determinant
b) Minor determinant
Name 5 types of penicillin reactions
Delayed maculopapular exanthems
Mucocutaneous syndromes such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome
Drug fever
Acute interstitial nephritis
Pulmonary infiltrates with eosinophilia
Can patients with egg allergy safely receive influenza vaccine?
Yes
How do you confirm milk allergy?
Milk challenge