Acquired immunosuppression

ACE2034 - Introduction to Immunology Acquired Immunosuppression

Name: Neel Rathod Student Number: 110348285 Course: Food and Human Nutrition Word Count: 994 words

Acquired immunosuppression
Introduction In immunosuppression, the efficiency of the immune system is reduced. Part of immunosuppressive immune system also affects the other parts of the immune system and results in fatal reaction for treatment of other conditions (Handin et. al, 2002, pp. 292-295).

Discussion Immunodeficiency disorder results when there is reduced response from bodys immune system or having no response. In immunosuppression, the efficiency of the immune system is reduced. Part of immunosuppressive immune system also affects the other parts of the immune system and results in fatal reaction for treatment of other conditions (Handin et. al, 2002, pp. 292-295).

Causes The immune system consists of bodys lymphoid tissues. Lymphoid tissues consist of bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, tonsils and portion of the gastrointestinal tract and spleen. In addition to this, protein and blood cells are also part of the immune system. The purpose of the immune system is to protect the body from injurious substances known as antigens. Bacteria, toxins, viruses, foreign tissues or blood, and cancer cells from other human body or species are an example of antigens (Roberton & South, 2007, pp. 423- 425). Whenever immune system identifies antigen in the body, it protects the body by destroying them with antibodies which protect the body from injurious elements. Phagocytosis is the process which is executed when immune system responds to antigens. The process of Phagocytosis involves specific white blood cells which destroys and swallows antigens. Proteins known as complement support in this process (Roberton & South, 2007, pp. 423-425).

Acquired immunosuppression
When the immune system does not actively responds to protect the body from injurious elements than immune system disorder happens. The responses of the immune system might be underactive or overactive. Any part of the immune system can be affected with immunosuppression or immunodeficiency disorder. Usually this situation is taking place when unique white cells of blood which are known as B or T lymphocytes do not work, or both does not work up to the

standard, or required antibodies are not produced by your body. Innate immunosuppression that can affect B cells consists of: Hypogammaglobulinemia normally directs to cause gastrointestinal infection or respiratory infection. Agammaglobulinemia leading to intense infections at early stages of life and is mostly fatal. Inborn immunosuppression affecting T cells might leads to repeated Candida infections or yeast infections. Immunosuppression affecting both B cells and T cells can be deadly when inherited by birth. If not treated at early stages it can be fatal during lifes first year (Roberton & South, 2007, pp. 423-425). However, some medicines also weaken the immune system (e.g. corticosteroids) which further leads to immunodeficiency, and the person having such immunodeficiency is called immunosuppressed. Chemotherapy provided to cure cancer also leads to immunosuppression, a common side effect of such treatment. Complication or difficulties of diseases can also leads to acquired immunosuppression such as malnutrition (most importantly when there is insufficient protein for a person or he does not take enough protein) and HIV infection. Most of the cancers also lead to immunosuppression (Scheld et. al, 2004, pp.833-836). People with their spleen removed may have an acquired immunosuppression, and people with such conditions are exposed to higher risk regarding infection from specific bacteria

Acquired immunosuppression
to which spleen normally fights. Diabetes patients are also exposed to higher risk for such infections (Scheld et. al, 2004, pp.833-836). By the passage of time when a person gets older, his immune system is also less efficient. Tissues of the immune system (particularly lymphoid tissues such as thymus) contract

and there is a decrease in quantity of white blood cell and their activity level (Scheld et. al, 2004, pp.833-836). Conditions and diseases mentioned below can lead to immunosuppression or immunodeficiency disorder: Ataxia-telangiectasia Combined immunodeficiency disease Chediak-Higashi syndrome Complement deficiencies Hypogammaglobulinemia DiGeorge syndrome Leukocyte adhesion defects Job syndrome Panhypogammaglobulinemia o o Congenital agammaglobulinemia Bruton disease

Wiscott-Aldrich syndrome Selective deficiency of IgA

Symptoms The symptoms of the immunosuppression depend on disorders.

Acquired immunosuppression

Tests and exams Practitioner could identify a person having immunosuppression if he is having infection which is consistent and frequently appears or does not go away. Also, bacteria and germs causing serious infection which is not meant to cause such severe infections (Fischbach & Bunning, 2008, pp.632-638). There are some other signs of immunosuppression, which are: poor result from infection treatment; incomplete or delayed revival from poor health or illness; specific cancer types such as non-Hodgkins lymphoma or Kaposis sarcoma; and specific types of infections which includes repeated infections of yeast or some types of pneumonia (Fischbach & Bunning, 2008, pp.632-638). To diagnose an immunosuppression or immunodeficiency disorder, tests which can be used are HIV test, test to measure or calculate the substances discharged by the immune system, or complement intensity in the blood, urine or blood protein electrophoresis, white cell count in blood, and T lymphocyte count (Gray & Kocjan, 2010, pp.471-475).

Prognosis It is observed that some immunodeficiency disorders or immunosuppressions are not much intense, and they result in time to time sickness. However, other immunosuppressions are intense and might have fatal impact. Immunosuppression which caused with medication commonly disappears when a person stops such medications (Kelly, 2008, pp. 203-204).

Conclusion In immunosuppression, the efficiency of the immune system is reduced. Part of immunosuppressive immune system also affects the other parts of the immune system and results in fatal reaction for treatment of other conditions.

Acquired immunosuppression

Immunodeficiency disorder results when there is reduced response from bodys immune system or having no response. In immunosuppression, the efficiency of the immune system is reduced. Part of immunosuppressive immune system also affects the other parts of the immune system and results in fatal reaction for treatment of other conditions. It is observed that some immunodeficiency disorders or immunosuppressions are not much intense, and they result in time to time sickness. However, other immunosuppressions are intense and might have fatal impact. Immunosuppression which caused with medication commonly disappears when a person stops such medications.

Acquired immunosuppression

References Fellermann, K., Jewell, D. P., Sandborn, W. J., Schlmerich, J., & Stange, E. F. (Eds.). (2001). Immunosuppression in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Standards, New Developments, Future Trends (Vol. 119). Springer. Fischbach, F., & Dunning, M. B. (2008). A manual of laboratory and diagnostic tests. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Gray, W., & Kocjan, G. (2010). Diagnostic cytopathology. Churchill Livingstone. Handin, R. I., Lux, S. E., & Stossel, T. P. (2002). Blood: principles and practice of hematology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Kelly, D. A. (2008). Diseases of the Liver and Biliary System in Children, 3rd edition. WileyBlackwell. Roberton, D. M., & South, M. J. (2007). Practical paediatrics. Churchill Livingstone. Scheld, W. M., Whitley, R. J., & Marra, C. M. (2004). Infections of the central nervous system, 3rd edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.