A 13-month old male has decreased numbers of B cells and very low levels of all isotypes of immunoglobulins. This patient would be expected to be unable to clear infections by
- Extracellular bacteria (e.g., Streptococcus spp).
- Intracellular bacteria (e.g., Mycobacterium spp)
- Intracellular protozoa
- Viruses
- Fungi
B cells make antibodies and are the precursors of plasma cells that both synthesize and secrete antibodies. Antibodies are the primary means for inhibiting and killing extracellular bacteria. This patient is likely to have Bruton disease, an agammaglobulinemia that results in increased susceptibility to infection with encapsulated bacteria.
No comments:
Post a Comment