Immune deficiency

Immune deficiency refers to a state in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent.

Overview

Most cases of immune deficiency are acquired ("secondary") due to extrinsic factors that affect the patient's immune system. Examples of these extrinsic factors include HIV infection and environmental factors, such as nutrition. In the clinical setting, the immunosuppression by some drugs, such as steroids, can be either an adverse effect or the intended purpose of the treatment.

Types of Immune Deficiency

Immune deficiencies can be categorized in several ways:

• By the component(s) of the immune system affected
• By whether the immune system is overactive or underactive
• By whether the condition is congenital or acquired.

Primary Immune Deficiency

A primary immune deficiency is usually due to genetic defects, and can be inherited. These defects impact different components of the immune system, such as the T cells, B cells, or phagocytes.

Secondary Immune Deficiency

A secondary immune deficiency disease is caused by illness or other external factors and occurs later in life. The most common examples of these are AIDS and malnutrition.

Symptoms

The symptoms of immune deficiency can vary greatly from one person to another. Some people may experience frequent, unusual, or difficult to treat infections. Others may have poor growth or weight gain. The symptoms can often be more severe in people with secondary immune deficiencies than in those with primary immune deficiencies.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of immune deficiency is based on the person's medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. The type of tests will depend on the suspected cause of the immune deficiency.

Treatment

Treatment for immune deficiency depends on the cause. For primary immune deficiencies, treatment can include immunoglobulin therapy, antibiotic therapy, or stem cell transplant. For secondary immune deficiencies, treatment involves addressing the underlying cause, such as treating HIV or improving nutrition.

See Also

• Immunology
• Immunodeficiency
• Primary immunodeficiency
• Secondary immunodeficiency

Immune deficiency Resources
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