Immunodeficiency, also known as immunocompromisation, is a state in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious diseases and cancer is compromised or entirely absent.
Examples of such use is in organ transplant surgery as an anti-rejection measure and in patients with an overactive immune system, as in autoimmune diseases.
B cell deficiency The distinction between primary versus secondary immunodeficiencies is based on, respectively, whether the cause originates in the immune system itself or is, in turn, due to insufficiency of a supporting component of it or an external decreasing factor of it.
There are over 95 recognised primary immunodeficiency syndromes; they are generally grouped by the part of the immune system that is malfunctioning, such as lymphocytes or granulocytes.
[12] The treatment of primary immunodeficiencies depends on the nature of the defect, and may involve antibody infusions, long-term antibiotics and (in some cases) stem cell transplantation.
The characteristics of lacking and/or impaired antibody functions can be related to illnesses such as X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia and Common Variable Immune Deficiency [13] Secondary immunodeficiencies, also known as acquired immunodeficiencies, can result from various immunosuppressive agents, for example, malnutrition, aging, particular medications (e.g., chemotherapy, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, immunosuppressive drugs after organ transplants, glucocorticoids) and environmental toxins like mercury and other heavy metals, pesticides and petrochemicals like styrene, dichlorobenzene, xylene, and ethylphenol.
This includes many types of cancer, particularly those of the bone marrow and blood cells (leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma), and certain chronic infections.
HIV directly infects a small number of T helper cells, and also impairs other immune system responses indirectly.
This transitional phase, known as the "antibody vulnerability period", lasts until approximately three to four years of age, during which the child's immune system matures and becomes fully functional.
[20] Naturally bioactive Immunoglobulin G is found in breast milk which plays a significant role in early life during the vulnerable period.
[21] Research indicates that maintaining adequate levels of IgG during early childhood may help mitigate the risks associated with this immune vulnerability.
This supplementation can offer a protective boost, enhancing the infant's ability to fend off infections and other health threats during the critical years when their immune system is still developing.
The immune system produces several classes of immunoglobulins (Ig), such as IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM.
Genetic testing involves collecting samples from patients for molecular analysis when there is a suspicion of inborn errors in immunity.
[27] • Whole Exome Sequencing (WES): is a commonly used method which captures the majority of coding regions of the genome for sequencing, as these regions contain the majority of disease-causing mutations Useful for identifying mutations in specific genes[28] • Trio or Whole-Family Analyses: In some cases, analyzing the DNA of the patient, parents, and siblings (trio analysis) or the entire family (whole-family analysis) can reveal inheritance patterns and identify causative mutations[29] Available treatment falls into two modalities: treating infections and boosting the immune system.
Newer stem cell transplant technologies may lead to gene based treatments of debilitating and fatal genetic immune deficiencies.