Primary Immunodeficiencies (Pathology - Week 5) Flashcards
What is an immunodeficiency?
Any defect in the immune response that renders an individual more susceptible to infectious diseases that would be cleared by someone who was healthy
True or False: Patients with immunodeficiency are more prone to infections, which are also more likely to lead to long-term debilitation or death. They often are at higher risk of developing autoimmunity or cancer.
True
What is a primary immunodeficiency?
- mostly inborn (genetic)
- often detected in infancy or childhood (but may be detected in adulthood)
What is a secondary immunodeficiency?
Acquired due to external factors (e.g., infection, chemotherapy, medications, etc.)
When an individual has a T-cell defect, what are some examples of what they might be prone to?
- bacterial sepsis
- cytomegalovirus, EBV, varicella, chronic infections with respiratory and intestinal viruses
- Candida, Pneumocystis jiroveci
note: don’t need to memorize these, maybe just have an idea
What are special features of a T-cell defect?
Aggressive disease with opportunistic pathogens & failure to clear infections
When an individual has a B-cell defect, what are some examples of what they might be prone to?
- Streptococci, Staphylococci, Haemophilus
- Enteroviral encephalitis
- severe intestinal giardiasis
What are special features of a B-cell defect?
- recurrent sinopulmonary infections
- sepsis
- chronic meningitis
When an individual has a granulocyte defect, what might they be prone to?
- Staphylococci, Pseudomonas
- Candida, Nocardia, Aspergillus
When a person has a complement defect, what might they be prone to?
- Neisserial infections, other pyogenic (pus-forming) infections
Although primary immunodeficiences are rare, what are the most common ones?
- B cell deficiencies (e.g., isolated IgA deficiency*** - 1/600)
- DiGeorge Syndrome 1-2/2000
- Severe combined immunodeficiency 1/ 75,000
- innate immunodeficiencies (e.g., complement deficiencies 1/20,000)
True or False: Primary immunodeficiencies are common
False
Most are rare
Describe the pathophysiology of X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA)
- pro-B cells are unable to differentiate into pre-B cells
- can make heavy chain variable region, but not a light chain (therefore unable to make antibodies)
- lack tyrosine kinase (which initiates recombination and antibody formation)
What are the clinical features of X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA)?
- recurrent respiratory infections, most being gram-positive usually destroyed by IgG opsonizationa nd phagocytosis (e.g., pharyngitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia)
- mostly only males affected (X-linked)
How is X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) diagnosed?
- B-cells are absent or very much decreased
- all immunoglobulins are depressed
- B-cell areas of lymphatic tissues are undeveloped
How is X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) treated?
intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)
What is the prognosis of X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA)?
- in the past, most died in childhood
- IVIG therapy now allows most people to live into their 40s (key to diagnose and treat early)
What type of immunological issues can be present with Common Variable Immunodeficiency?
- defects in most classes of antibody secretion
- inability of helper T cells to amplify antibody production
- reduced cytotoxic T cell activity
- assorted defects in the innate immune system
What is the common feature of Common Variable Immunodeficiency?
hypogammaglobulinemia (low levels of antibodies in the blood)
Note: usually involves all antibody classes but sometimes only IgG antibodies are reduced
True or False: Common Variable Immunodeficiency is not a single disease, but can occur with other defects
True
What are the clinical features of Common Variable Immunodeficiency?
- resembles XLA (recurrent sinopulmonary infections, giardiasis, and serious enterovirus infections)
- may have recurrent and severe herpes infections
- 20% rate of autonimmune disease
How do you diagnose Common Variable Immunodeficiency?
- no other B-cell abnormality detected (e.g., it’s not XLA or an isolated IgA deficiency)
- reduced immunoglobulins (but not as severely as XLA)
- B-cell areas of lymphatic tissues are usually hyperplastic
How do you treat Common Variable Immunodeficiency?
intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)
What is the prognosis of Common Variable Immunodeficiency?
- 20 year survival is high
- IVIG allows people to live for quite a while
How common is isolated IgA deficiency?
1/600 (the only common primary immunodeficiency)
Note: much more common in Caucasians