Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

©2018 of 131 unique health challenges like infections associated with adaptive and innate immune deficiency, microthrombocytpenia, and eczema. People suffering from Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome often suffer from autoimmune disorders. T-Cell Disorders T-cell disorders are also known as cellular immunity deficiencies and account for about five to ten percent of the total primary immunodeficiencies. People suffering from this disorder become vulnerable to infections caused by viruses, fungi, and other organisms. These disorders influence both the humoral as well as the cell-mediated response of the immune system. Common diseases caused by T-cell disorders are DiGeorge syndrome (resulting from the improper formation or absence of thymus gland), ZAP-70 deficiency, X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome, and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. People suffering from a genetic T-cell defect are difficult to treat and often require gene therapy. B-Cell Disorders B-cell disorders account for the majority of primary immunodeficiencies and are known as humoral immunity deficiencies. In this disorder, the serum Ig and the titers of the antibody decrease and the body becomes highly prone to bacterial infections. Most common among B-cell disorders is the selective IgA deficiency, in which the person becomes susceptible to gastrointestinal, eye, and nasopharyngeal infections. Other disorders of the B-cell include X-linked infantile hypogammaglobulinemia, in which the number of B-cells and levels of immunoglobulin are low, transient hypogammaglobulinemia, common variable hypogammaglobulinemia, IgG deficiency, and X-linked hyper-IgM immunodeficiency. Secondary Immune Deficiencies Until now we have studied the disorders and deficiencies of the immune system, which is genetic and present by birth. However, it is also possible that the immune system gets compromised by external environmental factors and the person acquires the immune system disorder. Secondary immune deficiencies are more common as compared to primary immunodeficiencies. Some of these immune deficiencies are explained below. HIV/ AIDS One severe secondary immune deficiency is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which is associated with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 or HIV-1. In 1981, AIDS was recognized as an epidemic in the United States due to the spread of large incidences of opportunistic infections caused by microbes. This infection often destroys the T-lymphocytes cells in the immune system. It was only after three years that the carrier of this disease was identified, and two years later the species causing this infection was christened human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The virus is highly fragile and is easily transmitted to others through blood and semen. The disease is transmitted by the use of contaminated needles during injecting intravenous drugs, and bleeding cases during anal intercourse. Another method of transmission of this virus is abrasions in the Achieve Page 31

Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online