IMMUNOLOGY Flashcards
What is the underlying pathology in patients who die from anaphylaxis without antecedent respiratory insufficiency? (HPIM 20th ed. C346 P2506)
a. Visceral congestion leading to loss of intravascular volume
b. Mechanical laryngeal obstruction
c. Bronchospasm and peribronchial congestion
d. Volume depletion due to profuse vomiting
The correct answer is: Visceral congestion leading to loss of intravascular volume
A 30/F slumped on a sidewalk was brought to ER by a bystander. On physical exam, she was hypotensive, tachycardic and desaturated. There was audible stridor and tight air entry on chest auscultation. Her extremities showed multiple erythematous wheals, and larger plaques. With her belongings was a budesonide + formoterol inhaler. Which of the following inciting factors is LEAST likely for this patient? (HPIM 20th ed. C346 P2506)
a. Peanuts
b. Latex
c. Exercise
d. Bee sting
The correct answer is: Bee sting
A 45/F was sent to the ER due to difficulty of breathing. The patient was undergoing her 2nd cycle of chemotherapy when a few minutes into the infusion, she suddenly developed pruritus, nausea and difficulty breathing. BP was 110/80 HR 110 RR 24 T 37º C, O2 sats 92%. Bilateral wheezing and generalized erythematous maculopapular rash was noted on physical examination. What is the first line treatment for this patient? (HPIM 20th ed. C346 P2507)
a. Diphenhydramine 25mg IM
b. Epinephrine 0.3-0.5 ml of 1:1000 concentration IM
c. Hydrocortisone 100mg IV q8
d. Nebulization with beta agonist
The correct answer is: Epinephrine 0.3-0.5 ml of 1:1000 concentration IM
More favorable outcomes are seen in patients with anaphylaxis who are given epinephrine within the first: (HPIM 20th ed. C346 P2507)
a. 30 minutes
b. 20 minutes
c. 2 hours
d. 1 hour
The correct answer is: 20 minutes
What is the key effector cell in asthma and allergic rhinitis? (HPIM 20th ed. C345 P2498)
a. Mast cells
b. B lymphocytes
c. Eosinophils
d. Basophils
The correct answer is: Mast cells
A 20/F presented in the OPD due to recurrent urticaria. On probing, you note that the wheals often show up on her bilateral shoulders after a long day of carrying her backpack around. Which of the following is NOT an appropriate treatment for this patient? (HPIM 20th ed. C345 P2502)
a. H1 antagonist
b. H2 antagonist
c. CysLT1 receptor antagonist
d. Topical steroid
The correct answer is: Topical steroid
What immunodeficiency is associated with recurrent viral infections? (HPIM 20th ed C344 P2488)
a. Complement deficiency
b. Impaired T cell immunity
c. Defective antibody response
d. Innate immune defects
The correct answer is: Impaired T cell immunity
Which of the following conditions involve deficiency in the innate immune system? (HPIM 20th ed. C344 P2489)
a. IgA deficiency
b. DiGeorge’s syndrome
c. Leukocyte adhesion deficiency
d. Severe-combined immune deficiency
The correct answer is: Leukocyte adhesion deficiency
Which of the following vasculitides involves mainly the large vessels? (HPIM 20th ed. C356 P2585)
a. Takayasu’s arteritis
b. Polyarteritis nodosa
c. Churg-strauss syndrome
d. Henoch-schonlein purpura
The correct answer is: Takayasu’s arteritis
What is the most common arterial thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome? (HPIM 20th ed. C350 P2527 T350-2)
a. Digital gangrene
b. Myocardial ischemia
c. Renal artery thrombosis
d. Stroke
The correct answer is: Stroke
Which of the following is a risk factor for developing allergic rhinitis?
a. Male sex
b. Younger age
c. Maternal smoking
d. Being underweight
The correct answer is: Maternal smoking
A patient experiencing sneezing and ocular itching around 2 days a week with no impairment in sleep or daily activities can be classified as?
a. Intermittent mild
b. Intermittent moderate
c. Persistent mild
d. Persistent severe
The correct answer is: Intermittent mild
Which of the following responses is associated with biopsy findings of infiltrating and activated TH2 cells and various leukocytes?
a. Skin erythema with swelling
b. Wheal-and-flare response with pruritus
c. Bronchospasm and mucus secretion
d. Nasal pruritus and watery discharge
ALLERGIC INFLAMMATION
Immediate phase
• Pruritus and watery discharge in the nose
• Bronchospasm and mucus secretion in the lung
• Wheal-and-flare response with pruritus in the skin
Late phase (6-8 hrs)
• Reduced nasal patency
• Reduced pulmonary function
• Erythema with swelling at the skin site
• Biopsy findings: Infiltrating and activated TH2 cells, eosinophils, basophils, and some neutrophils
The correct answer is: Skin erythema with swelling
Which of the following aspects is the basic differentiating feature between urticaria and angioedema?
a. Skin layers involved
b. Duration of episodes
c. Area of the body affected
d. Presence of systemic symptoms
URTICARIA AND ANGIOEDEMA
same pathophysiologic process occurring at different levels of the skin
- Urticaria – dilation of vascular structures in the superficial dermis
- Angioedema – originates from the deeper dermis and subcutaneous tissues
The correct answer is: Skin layers involved
How many weeks is the cutoff point for differentiating acute vs. chronic urticaria/angioedema?
a. 6
b. 8
c. 10
d. 12
- Acute – <6 weeks
- Chronic – >6 weeks
The correct answer is: 6
During which decades are chronic urticaria/angioedema the most common?
a. Second to fourth
b. Third to fifth
c. Fourth to sixth
d. Fifth to sevenths
CHRONIC URTICARIA/ANGIOEDEMA
- Can occur at any time, with the third to fifth decade being the most common
- Women > men
- Slight predominance for those with a history of atopy
The correct answer is: Third to fifth
What is the most common type of chronic urticaria/angiodema?
a. Hereditary
b. Idiopathic
c. Physical
d. Vasculitic
Acute urticaria – most often from food/environmental/drug allergen exposure or viral infection
Chronic urticaria – most often idiopathic
The correct answer is: Idiopathic
Which of the following types of physical urticaria is not influenced by atopy?
a. Cholinergic
b. Cold
c. Dermatographic
d. Solar
DERMOGRAPHISM/DERMATOGRAPHISM • Appearance of a linear wheal with surrounding erythema at the site of a brisk stroke with a firm object • Peaks in the second to third decades • Duration generally <5 years • Not influenced by atopy
The correct answer is: Dermatographic
Who among the following could be the most at risk for ACE inhibitor related angioedema?
a. White male
b. Elderly smoker
c. Young asthmatic
d. Female cancer patient
RISK FACTORS FOR ACE-INHIBITOR RELATED ANGIOEDEMA • Black race • Organ transplant • Female gender • Smoking • Increasing age
The correct answer is: Elderly smoker
Which of the following is the best evidence for IgE and mast cell involvement in urticaria and angioedema?
a. Cholinergic urticaria
b. Cold urticaria
c. Pressure urticaria
d. Urticaria pigmentosa
COLD URTICARIA
• Cryoglobulins or cold agglutinins are present in up to 5%
• Histology: Marked mast cell degranulation with associated edema of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues
• Elevated histamine levels
The correct answer is: Cold urticaria
Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis in a patient presenting with isolated angioedema and abdominal colic, nausea, and vomiting?
a. C1 inhibitor deficiency
b. Gleich syndrome
c. Mastocytosis
d. Urticarial vasculitis
BRADYKININ-MEDIATED ANGIOEDEMA (ACE INHIBITORS/C1INH DEFICIENCY)
• Absence of concomitant urticaria or pruritus
• Frequent involvement of the GI tract
• Duration of symptoms >24 hrs
• *Gleich syndrome = episodic angioedema with eosinophilia
The correct answer is: C1 inhibitor deficiency
Which of the following histologic features is most likely to be found in a patient complaining of prolonged episodes of painful and nonpruritic urticaria with resultant scarring?
a. Adventitial and medial fibrosis
b. Fibrinoid necrosis of the venules
c. Perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate
d. Necrotizing granulomatous inflammation of vessel walls
URTICARIAL VASCULITIS
• Painful, nonpruritic urticarial lesions that last >36 hrs with subsequent scarring
• Warrants biopsy
o Cellular infiltration and nuclear debris (leukocytoclastic vasculitis)
o Fibrinoid necrosis of the venules
The correct answer is: Fibrinoid necrosis of the venules
Which of the following medications are the treatment of choice for most forms of urticaria?
a. CysLT1 receptor antagonists
b. H1 antihistamines
c. H2 antagonists
d. Topical glucocorticoids
FIRST-LINE TREATMENT OF URTICARIA
• Preferred: Long-acting, non-sedating H1 antihistamines (loratadine, desloratadine, fexofenadine) or low-sedating agents (cetirizine, levocetirizine) given QID
• Add-on therapies:
o H2 antagonists (cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine) in conventional dosages
o CysLT1 receptor antagonists (montelukast, zafirlukast)
The correct answer is: H1 antihistamines
Which of the following is the next line of therapy for a patient with recurrent episodes of hives and wheezing upon exposure to low ambient temperatures that does not adequately respond to first-line treatments?
a. Cyclosporine
b. Hydroxychloroquine
c. Methylprednisolone
d. Omalizumab
COLD URTICARIA
- IgE and mast cell involvement
- Omalizumab (monoclonal anti-IgE antibody) – next line of therapy for chronic urticaria which has failed to respond to a combination of long-acting H1 antihistamines QID and a CysLT1 receptor antagonist or cold urticaria
The correct answer is: Omalizumab
For which of the following types of urticaria should the addition of systemic glucocorticoids be considered in the presence of severe disease that is poorly responsive to conventional therapies?
a. Allergen-induced
b. Cold
c. Cholinergic
d. Pressure
SYSTEMIC GLUCOCORTICOIDS
Useful in patients with debilitating disease that responds poorly to conventional treatment:
• Pressure urticaria
• Vasculitic urticaria (esp. with eosinophil prominence)
• Idiopathic angioedema ± urticaria
• Chronic urticaria
Generally avoided due to long-term toxicity:
• Idiopathic urticaria
• Allergen-induced urticaria
• Physical urticarias
The correct answer is: Pressure
Which of the following is a risk factor for developing allergic rhinitis?
a. Male sex
b. Younger age
c. Maternal smoking
d. Being underweight
RISK FACTORS • Atopy o Up to 50% of patients with allergic rhinitis manifest asthma o 70–80% of individuals with asthma and 80% of individuals with chronic bilateral sinusitis experience allergic rhinitis • Female sex • Particulate air pollution exposure • Maternal tobacco smoking The correct answer is: Maternal smoking
How many weeks is the cutoff point for differentiating acute vs. chronic rhinitis?
a. 4
b. 6
c. 8
d. 12
The correct answer is: 4
Oral long-acting H1 antihistamines are less effective for which of the following symptoms?
a. Tearing
b. Sneezing
c. Nasal congestion
d. Watery rhinorrhea
Oral long-acting H1 antihistamines are more effective for: • Nasopharyngeal itching • Sneezing • Watery rhinorrhea • Ocular itching/erythema • Tearing
The correct answer is: Nasal congestion
. Immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis is contraindicated in which of the following situations?
a. Advanced age
b. Breastfeeding
c. Significant cardiovascular disease
d. Concomitant antihypertensive therapy
IMMUNOTHERAPY CONTRAINDICATIONS
- Significant cardiovascular disease
- Unstable asthma
- Should be conducted with caution in any patient requiring β-adrenergic blocking therapy because of the difficulty in managing an anaphylactic complication
The correct answer is: Significant cardiovascular disease
Which of the following medications is an appropriate option for a patient experiencing sneezing and ocular itching around 2 days a week with no impairment in sleep or daily activities?
a. Intranasal glucocorticoid
b. Intranasal ipratropium bromide
c. Oral corticosteroid
d. Oral antihistamine
MILD INTERMITTENT AR
• <4 days/week or
• <4 weeks
• No troublesome symptoms or impairment in sleep/daily activities
ARIA 2008
The correct answer is: Oral antihistamine
Which of the following medications is the best option for a patient suffering from daytime somnolence and fatigue due to allergic rhinitis symptoms occurring around 4 days a week for 2 weeks?
a. CysLT1 receptor antagonist
b. Intranasal glucocorticoid
c. Intranasal ipratropium bromide
d. Oral corticosteroid
MODERATE-SEVERE INTERMITTENT AR
• <4 days/week, or
• <4 weeks
• (+) Troublesome symptoms or impairment in sleep/daily activities
ARIA 2008
The correct answer is: Intranasal glucocorticoid
Which of the following clinical manifestations is the least consistent with allergic rhinitis?
a. Nasal and ocular itching
b. Paroxysmal sneezing with tearing
c. Posterior rhinorrhea with anosmia
d. Eye swelling with nasal congestion
The correct answer is: Posterior rhinorrhea with anosmia
Intranasal decongestants should be given for less than how many days to prevent rhinitis medicamentosa?
a. 10
b. 14
c. 21
d. 30
RHINITIS MEDICAMENTOSA
Rebound nasal congestion that occurs with prolonged use (more than 10 days) of topical decongestants such as oxymetazoline and phenylephrine
The correct answer is: 10
Which of the following is not an indication for initiating subcutaneous immunotherapy?
a. Undesirable side effects from pharmacotherapy
b. Concomitant bronchial asthma that is poorly controlled
c. Refusal of patient to be on constant or long-term pharmacotherapy
d. Inadequate relief of rhinitis symptoms with antihistamines and moderate-dose topical glucocorticoids
The correct answer is: Concomitant bronchial asthma that is poorly controlled
Based on the ARIA 2016 update, what is the preferred treatment for perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) in addition to an intranasal corticosteroid (INCS)?
a. CysLT1 receptor antagonist
b. Intranasal antihistamine
c. Oral antihistamine
d. No additional agent
In patients with PAR, there is no additional benefit from a combination therapy compared with INCS alone
The correct answer is: No additional agent
In patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, which of the following concomitant conditions might make them benefit more from a CysLT1 receptor antagonist vs. an oral antihistamine?
a. Allergic conjunctivitis
b. Brittle asthma
c. Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction
d. Postnasal drip
The correct answer is: Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction
Which of the following vasculitis syndromes is associated with pathogenic immune-complex formation?
a. Churg-Strauss syndrome
b. Henoch-Schönlein purpura
c. Microscopic polyangiitis
d. Takayasu arteritis
The correct answer is: Henoch-Schönlein purpura
Which of the following vasculitis syndromes is associated with both antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) production and granuloma formation?
a. Churg-Strauss syndrome
b. Henoch-Schönlein purpura
c. Polyarteritis nodosa
d. Takayasu arteritis
The correct answer is: Churg-Strauss syndrome
What is the major cytoplasmic ANCA (cANCA) antigen?
a. Cathepsin G
b. Elastase
c. Myeloperoxidase
d. Proteinase-3
cANCA • Proteinase-3 (>90%) pANCA • Myeloperoxidase (major) • Elastase • Cathepsin G • Lactoferrin • Lysozyme • Bactericidal/permeability- increasing protein
The correct answer is: Proteinase-3
What is the major perinuclear ANCA (pANCA) antigen?
a. Cathepsin G
b. Elastase
c. Myeloperoxidase
d. Proteinase-3
cANCA • Proteinase-3 (>90%) pANCA • Myeloperoxidase (major) • Elastase • Cathepsin G • Lactoferrin • Lysozyme • Bactericidal/permeability- increasing protein
The correct answer is: Myeloperoxidase
Arteriogram of organs with suspected involvement should be performed in which of the following vasculitis syndromes?
a. Churg-Strauss syndrome
b. Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis
c. Henoch-Schönlein purpura
d. Polyarteritis nodosa
ARTERIOGRAM INDICATIONS
• Polyarteritis nodosa
• Takayasu arteritis
• Primary CNS vasculitis
The correct answer is: Polyarteritis nodosa
What is the histopathologic hallmark of Wegener’s granulomatosis?
a. Necrotizing inflammation of small- and medium-sized muscular arteries
b. Necrotizing vasculitis of small arteries and veins with granuloma formation
c. Inflammatory mononuclear cell infiltration of medium- and large-sized arteries
d. Eosinophilic infiltration of small- and medium-sized muscular arteries, capillaries, veins, and venules
HISTOPATHOLOGIC HALLMARKS OF GRANULOMATOSIS WITH POLYANGIITIS (WEGENER’S)
• Necrotizing vasculitis of small arteries and veins
• Granuloma formation (may be either intravascular or extravascular)
• Classically found in the respiratory tract and kidneys
The correct answer is: Necrotizing vasculitis of small arteries and veins with granuloma formation
In a patient with bloody nasal discharge, nodular cavitary lung infiltrates, palpable purpura, and glomerulonephritis, which tissue should be obtained for the highest diagnostic yield?
a. Upper airway
b. Lung
c. Kidney
d. Skin
TISSUE DIAGNOSIS OF WEGENER’S GRANULOMATOSIS
• Pulmonary tissue – highest diagnostic yield; almost invariably reveals granulomatous vasculitis
• Upper airway tissue – usually reveals granulomatous inflammation with necrosis but may not show vasculitis
• Renal tissue – pauci-immune glomerulonephritis
The correct answer is: Lung
What is the most frequent cause of mortality among patients with Wegener’s granulomatosis?
a. Stroke
b. Cardiomyopathy
c. Pulmonary hemorrhage
d. Renal failure
RENAL DISEASE IN WEGENER’S GRANULOMATOSIS
• Generally dominates the clinical picture (77%)
• Once clinically detectable renal functional impair- ment occurs, rapidly progressive renal failure usually ensues unless appropriate treatment is instituted
• Accounts for most of the mortality rate if left untreated
The correct answer is: Renal failure
On top of glucocorticoids, what is the treatment of choice for granulomatosis with polyangiitis?
a. Azathioprine
b. Cyclophosphamide
c. Methotrexate
d. Rituximab
CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE
• Marked improvement in >90% of patients
• Complete remission in 75% of patients
• 5-year patient survival in >80%
The correct answer is: Cyclophosphamide
Which of the following clinical manifestations is the least consistent with microscopic polyangiitis?
a. Cutaneous vasculitis
b. Endobronchial disease
c. Mononeuritis multiplex
d. Pauci-immune glomerulonephritis
CLINICAL FEATURES OF MICROSCOPIC POLYANGIITIS
• Fever, weight loss, and musculoskeletal pain
• Pauci-immune glomerulonephritis
• Mononeuritis multiplex
• GI tract vasculitis
• Cutaneous vasculitis
• Elevated ESR, anemia, leukocytosis, and thrombocytosis
The correct answer is: Endobronchial disease
Which of the following laboratory findings is most likely to be seen in a patient presenting with severe asthmatic attacks, pulmonary infiltrates, mononeuritis multiplex, and cutaneous vasculitis?
a. Circulating ANCA
b. Marked eosinophilia
c. Elevated γ-globulin level
d. Elevated C-reactive protein
LABORATORY FINDINGS IN CHURG-STRAUSS DISEASE
• Striking eosinophilia (>80%)
• Elevated ESR, fibrinogen, or α-globulins (81%)
• Circulating ANCA (48%)
The correct answer is: Marked eosinophilia
What is the most frequent cause of death among patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis?
a. Renal failure
b. Status asthmaticus
c. Pulmonary hemorrhage
d. Myocardial involvement
CARDIAC INVOLVEMENT IN CHURG-STRAUSS SYNDROME
- Clinically recognizable heart disease occurs in ~14% of patients
- Myocardial involvement – most frequent cause of death (39%)
- Echocardiography – should be performed in all newly diagnosed patients
- Treatment of choice: Daily cyclophosphamide + prednisone, followed by azathioprine or methotrexate
The correct answer is: Myocardial involvement
Which of the following arteries are not involved in polyarteritis nodosa?
a. Cerebral
b. Coronary
c. Pulmonary
d. Renal
Polyarteritis nodosa – necrotizing inflammation of small- and medium-sized muscular arteries
• Pulmonary arteries are not involved
• Bronchial artery involvement is uncommon
HPIM 20e, Ch. 356, p. 2583 (Table 356-6)
The correct answer is: Pulmonary