Immunology

Question 1

Are NK cells part of innate or adaptive immunity?

Answer 1

NK cells represent a part of innate immunity because they don’t require prior learning to know which cells to kill

Question 2

Targeted biological drugs such as anti-TNF (e.g adalimumab) are functionally equivalent to passive or active immunity?

Answer 2

Biological drugs are functionally equivalent to passive immunisation

Question 3

What antibody test is most likely to aid diagnosis in a patient presenting with symptoms of SLE?(raynaud’s, mouth ulcers, pain in the small joints of the hand e.t.c)

Answer 3

Anti-double stranded DNA

Question 4

Which autoantibody is associated with Sjogren’s Syndrome?

Answer 4

Anti-Ro

Question 5

What medication is usually used first line in psoriasis patients?

Answer 5

Methotrexate

Question 6

When is methotrexate contraindicated?

Answer 6

Pregnancy

Liver disease

Question 7

Do all biologics pose a TB risk?

Answer 7

NO

Biologics are not all the same and are not all contraindicated in patients with a history of TB

Question 8

Why are biologic drugs a useful alternative to methotrexate in patients with psoriasis who have a history of liver disease?

Answer 8

Biologics are not processed by the liver

Question 9

Measurement of which antibody is most likely to aid the diagnosis of myaesthenia gravis?

Answer 9

Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody

Question 10

IgA deficiency is most commonly clinically silent but it can underlie what kind of infections?

Answer 10

Respiratory infections

Gastrointestinal infections

Question 11

What is the mechanism of adalimumab, a biologic treatment option for rheumatoid arthritis

Answer 11

Anti-inflammatory medication which blocks the central pro-inflammatory signalling pathway (NFkappaB activation)