Blood And Immunity Flashcards
What is primary immune deficiency?
Being born with a weak immune system.
What is acquired immune deficiency?
Having a disease or medication that weakens the immune system.
What is anaphylaxis?
An allergic reaction caused by an overactive immune system.
What is an autoimmune system?
Having an immune system that turns against you.
Explain Severe Combined Immunodeficiency.
(SCID)
Rare genetic disorder.
Disturbed development of the T cells and B cells (caused by genetic mutations).
Defective antibody response; direct involvement with B lymphocytes/ improper lymphocyte activation due to non-functional T-helper cells.
B cells and T cells of adaptive immune system are impaired- defect in one of several genes.
Most severe primary immune deficiency.
When is SCID diagnosed?
Early infancy.
Describe the symptoms of SCID.
May seem well at birth and for first few weeks- partially protected by antibodies passed from mother.
Signs usually occur in the first 3-6 months.
May seek help from GP or A&E for repeated infections, poor weight gain or feeding problems.
May be suspected due to low lymphocyte count in the blood.
How can SCID be treated?
Immunoglobulin replacement therapy (live donors).
Blood, plasma or platelet transfusions.
Bone marrow/ stem cell transplant.
What is a bone marrow/ stem cell transplant?
Receive healthy stem cells from a matched donor (usually healthy brother/ sister)
New cells rebuild the immune system
Possible for children to be cured by this treatment.
What is HIV/ AIDS?
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system.
If not treated, it can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).
What are the symptoms of HIV?
Flu-like symptoms 2-4 weeks after infection (acute HIV infection)
May last a few days-several weeks.
How does HIV affect the body?
Attacks and destroys CD4 cells (T cells).
CD4 count is used to check the health of the immune system in people infected with HIV.
What are the three stages of HIV?
1- acute
2- chronic
3- AIDS
Describe stage 1 of HIV infection.
ACUTE STAGE
Multiplies rapidly and spreads throughout the body.
Highly contagious due to high HIV concentration.
Virus attacks and destroys infection-fighting CD4 cells (T lymphocytes), causing flu-like symptoms. Bodys natural response to infection.
Only antibody/ antigen tests can diagnose acute infection.
Describe stage 2 of HIV infection.
CHRONIC STAGE
Aka asymptomatic HIV infection/ clinical latency.
Continues to multiply in body, but at low levels.
May not have any related symptoms.
Can transmit the disease.
End of phase: amount of HIV in blood (viral load) increase, CD4 count decreases. May have symptoms.
People who take medicine may never progress onto stage 3.
Describe the final stage of HIV infection.
AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)
Final, most severe stage.
Severely damaged the immune system, body cannot fight off opportunistic infections.
Diagnosed if CD4 count is less than 200 cells/mm3 or if they have certain opportunistic infections.
Can have a high viral load, and transmit HIV to others very easily.
Typically survive around 3 years without treatment.
How is HIV treated?
Antiretroviral Therapy (ART).
Taking a combination of HIV medicines.
Aim= reduce viral load to an undetectable level.
Initiated with a combination of 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) plus either a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) or a boosted protease inhibitor (PI)
If viral load is kept undetectable, effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to their HIV-negative partners through sex.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints (usually hands, feet, and wrists)
Periods where symptoms worsen= flares/ flare ups.
Flares can be difficult to predict, treatment can decrease the number of flares, minimise/ prevent long-term damage to the joints.
What are the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?
Joint pain
Stiffness
Lining of joints affected become inflamed, causing joints to swell and become hot, and tender to touch.
How is rheumatoid arthritis treated?
Aim= reduce inflammation, relieve pain, prevent/ slow down joint damage.
No cure
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) e.g. methotrexate.
Methotrexate is first line for RA, often with another DMARD and a short course of steroids (corticosteroids) to relieve any pain.
What is lupus?
Autoimmune disease (immune system attacks tissues and organs.
Inflammation caused by lupus can affect joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs.
Some people are born with a tendency to develop lupus, which may be triggered by infections, certain drugs, or sunlight.
