Immunodeficiency Flashcards
The difference between primary and secondary immunodeficiencies Examples of Primary Immunodeficiency Examples of Secondary Immunodeficiency
Primary immunodeficiency
What does it affect
Intrinsic genetic defects in immune system
T&B cells (Ab production), complement cascade, phagocytes
Secondary immunodeficiency
Caused by?
External factors which can deleteriously affect the immune system
Drugs, malnutrition, viral infection
Primary immunodeficiency (Detail)
What does it cause
Two types
Absence or failure of normal fx in one or more elements of immune system
Increased susceptibility to infection
Specific/Non-specific
Specific immunodeficiency
Abnormalities of T or B cells - adaptive immune system
Non-specific immunodeficiency
Abnormalities of phagocytes or complement - innate immune system
Two categories of primary ID and what are they at risk of
- defects in Ig, Completment, phagocytes –> recurrent bacterial infections
PYOGENIC - defects in cell-mediated immunity (T cells)
Infection by commensal organisms
OPPORTUNISTIC infections
B cell deficiencies
Increase in
Defects in B cell fx
Pyogenic infections
X-linked Agammaglobulinaemia
Which gene is affected therefore who does it affect
Signs and symptoms
First ID discovered
Gene on X-chromosome
Affects males
No B-cells
No tonsils
Little IgG in serum (other Igs present)
X-linked recessive inheritance
Occurs more frequently in
Females having one copy of gene =
Males because only one X chromosome
Carriers
Passed on to ill sons and carrier daughters
Ill males pass on to daughters
X linked dominant inheritance
Mechanism
Who has mutated gene
Stats
Affected man?
Less common
Dominant gene carried on X chromosome and only one copy needed to cause disorder
Mother passes on mutated genes to offspring
50% of children will have disease
Sons will not be affected if father has gene but daughters will
X linked agammaglobulinaemia
Mechanism
Results in
Symptoms
Therapy
Defective btk gene which encodes B cell tyrosine kinase
Important in B cell maturation
No B cell maturation so no IgG - poor Ab responses
Protective maternal IgG during first 6-12 months of life
Recurrent pyogenic infections - repeated injections of gamma globulin
Hyper-IgM Immunodeficiency
What kind of condition
Susceptible to…because
Deficient in IgG and IgA but HYPER IgM
X linked recessive condition with CD40 mutations
IgM turns to IgG
Susceptible to pyogenic infections and autoimmune disease due to anti IgM antibodies to neutrophils and platelets
IgA deficiency
Mechanisms
Most common
Failure in terminal diff of B cells to plasma cells
Type III hypersensitivity develops
Susceptible to pyogenic infections
T cell deficiencies result in
Opportunistic infections
Severe combined immunodeficiency
Results in
Example
SCID
Individuals with no or poor T cell fx
B cell function depends on T cell fx
T cell deficient individuals have poor humoral fx due to poor interaction
Commensal organism infections e.g oral candidiasis