Immune System

Question 1

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

Answer 1

progressive impairment of the immune system, ultimately fatal, sore throat, opportunistic infections, fatigue, diarrhea, weight loss, lymphadenopathy, pneumonia, malignancies, attacks T-cells

Question 2

Causes of AIDS

Answer 2

sexual contact, needles

Question 3

Common Variable Immunodeficiency (Acquired Hypogammaglobulinemia)

Answer 3

acquired B-cell deficiency, absence of antibody production/function, dyspnea, fever, diarrhea, runny nose, cough, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, B-cell count normal, B-cell function impaired

Question 4

Causes of CVID

Answer 4

possibly defective T-cell signaling

Question 5

Selective Immunoglobulin A Deficiency (IgA)

Answer 5

failure to produce immunoglobulin A (IgA), asymptomatic

Question 6

Causes of Selective Immunoglobulin A Deficiency

Answer 6

failure to produce adequate levels of IgA, possibly failure of gene switching

Question 7

X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia

Answer 7

severe B-cell deficiency

Question 8

Causes of X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia

Answer 8

sex-linked, affects only males, defect in Bruton tyrosine kinase

Question 9

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency

Answer 9

group of disorders that result from a disturbance in the development and function of T and B cells, absence of both cell-mediated (T) and antibody-mediated (B) immunity

Question 10

Causes of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency

Answer 10

X-linked, autosomal recessive, defect in stem differentiation into B and T cells, X-linked due to mutation in a cytokine receptor gene, which blocks cytokine pathways, autosomal comes from a mutation in a gene coding for tyrosine kinase or for a recombinase enzyme

Question 11

DiGeorge Anomaly (Thymic Hypoplasia)

Answer 11

congenital cause of immunodeficiency, small or absent thymus, signs of tetany, cardiovascular defects

Question 12

Causes of DiGeorge Anomaly

Answer 12

abnormal development of the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches during 12th week of gestation, underdeveloped thymus

Question 13

Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis

Answer 13

chronic fungal infections of the skin, nails, and mucous membranes

Question 14

Causes of of Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis

Answer 14

T cell deficit specific to Candida, susceptible to infection

Question 15

Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome

Answer 15

congenital disorder characterized by inadequate B and T cell function

Question 16

Causes of Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome

Answer 16

X-linked, affects only males, mutation in the gene encoding the Wiskott-Aldrich protein, thymus gland decreases with age, metabolic defects in platelet synthesis

Question 17

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Answer 17

red blood cells are destroyed by antibodies, fatigue, weakness, chilles, jaundice, pale, dyspnea

Question 18

Causes of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Answer 18

B cells not able to identify red blood cells as part of the body and destroy them

Question 19

Pernicious Anemia

Answer 19

impaired vitamin B12 absorption

Question 20

Causes of Pernicious Anemia

Answer 20

decreased gastric production of hydrochloric acid, shortage of intrinsic factor, impaired vitamin B12 absorption

Question 21

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Answer 21

isolated deficiency of platelets, inability to clot, spontaneous hemorrhage

Question 22

Causes of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Answer 22

idiopathic, possibly antibodies that reduce the life of platelets

Question 23

Immune Neutropenia

Answer 23

decreased number of circulation neutrophils

Question 24

Causes of Immune Neutropenia

Answer 24

accelerated turnover of neutrophils, diminished to almost complete absence, infection, drug exposure, ITP, autoimmune response, acute rheumatoid arthritis, hemolytic anemia

Question 25

Goodpasture Syndrome

Answer 25

autoimmune kidney disease, presence of antibodies directed against the antigen in the glomerular basement membrane

Question 26

Causes of Goodpasture Syndrome

Answer 26

antibodies cause complement-mediated tissue damage in the glomerular and alveolar basement membranes, causing glomerulonephritis and pulmonary hemorrhage

Question 27

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Answer 27

chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, unusual antibodies in the blood that target body tissues, inflames and damages connective tissue, butterfly rash

Question 28

Causes of Lupus

Answer 28

autoimmune disorder, antibodies targeting the body’s own cells

Question 29

Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis)

Answer 29

chronic disease characterized by the hardening of the skin, possible scarring of internal organs

Question 30

Causes of Scleroderma

Answer 30

unknown, possibly autoimmune disease

Question 31

Sjögren Syndrome

Answer 31

autoimmune disease that features inflammation in various glands, rheumatoid arthritis, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, dryness of pharynges, sores on the mouth, dental decay

Question 32

Causes of Sjögren Syndrom

Answer 32

unknown, possibly genetic factors, most patients are female

Question 33

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Answer 33

chronic inflammatory disease that affects the joints, causes deformity and disability, inflammation of the synovial membranes surrounding joints, inflammation spreads across joint, destroys adjacent bone

Question 34

Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Answer 34

unknown, autoimmune, genetic

Question 35

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Answer 35

Rheumatoid Arthritis that affects people less than 16 years of age

Question 36

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Answer 36

systemic, inflammatory disease affecting the spinal column, starts in sacroiliac region of spine, uveitis, limited range of motion in affected joints

Question 37

Causes of Ankylosing Spondylitis

Answer 37

not known

Question 38

Polymyositis

Answer 38

disease of muscle that features inflammation of the muscles fibers, usually close to trunk or torso, severe weakness, chronic illness, periods of increased and decreased symptoms, muscles weakness

Question 39

Causes of Polymyositis

Answer 39

unknown, possibly autoimmune, white blood cells spontaneously invade muscles

Question 40

Multiple Sclerosis

Answer 40

inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, attacks myelin sheath, fatty substance covering brain and spinal cord, causes scarring that debilitates the nerves, prevents transmission of stimuli to the brain

Question 41

Causes of Multiple Sclerosis

Answer 41

unknown, virus, immune system most likely involved

Question 42

Myasthenia Gravis

Answer 42

chronic, progressive, neuromuscular disease, stems from the presence of autoantibodies in the acetylcholine receptor, extreme muscular weakness

Question 43

Causes of Myasthenia Gravis

Answer 43

autoimmune mechanism in which a faulty transmission of nerve impulses occurs, autoantibodies against the acetylcholine receptor

Question 44

Small Vessel Vasculitis

Answer 44

inflammation of the walls of small blood vessels, capillaries, arterioles, venules, petechiae, purpura, erythema, ulcerations, edema, burning sensation

Question 45

Cause of Small Vessel Vasculitis

Answer 45

unknown, often accompanies other immune disorders, possibly exposure to certain chemicals, foods, drugs

Question 46

Systemic Necrotizing Vasculitis

Answer 46

inflammation of the walls of medium and large arteries

Question 47

Causes of Systemic Necrotizing Vasculitis

Answer 47

not clear how necrotizing of blood vessels occurs