Immunopathology in Massachusetts, Cambridge

Diseases caused by disorders of the immune system

1. Diseases caused by deficiency of the immune system - immune deficiencies.

2. diseases caused by excessive response of the immune system: autoimmune, allergic.

3. Infection of the immune system with the direct localization of the virus in the lymphocytes (AIDS, mononucleosis, etc.).

4. Tumors of the immune system - lymphogranulomatosis, lymphoma, acute and chronic leukemia, lymphosarcoma.

5. Diseases of immune complexes.

Primary immunodeficiencies (inborn)

Diseases are rare, but their identification should be carried out rapidly, because such children may be a hotbed of spread of a variety of pathogens, repressing the  function of the immune system.

Primary immunodeficiencies - is a condition in which the disorders of the immune mechanisms is associated with the genetic unit (malformation of the immune system).

Depending on the level of the lesion and localization of the defect, distinguish the following types of primary immunodeficiencies:

- Predominantly humoral;

- Predominantly cell;

- Combined;

- Hereditarily caused Defects of nonspecific factors protection (phagocytosis, complement system, etc.).

Secondary immunodeficiencies

Secondary immunodeficiency are formed under the influence of the environment, are much more common than primary and are manifested in chronic purulent-inflammatory diseases of the skin, the upper respiratory tract, lung, genitourinary system, the gastrointestinal tract, and others organs.

The causes of secondary immunodeficiency:

1. Infectious agents - viral, bacterial, parasitic, fungal diseases which damage, inhibit the cells, alter the immune response. An example is HIV.

2. Non-infectious factors - methods of treatment that suppress the immune system, malnutrition, metabolism, intoxication, any serious diseases (cancer, heart disease, lung, liver), stress conditions (operative trauma, anesthesia, heavy physical exertion), burns, adverse ecological environment (chemical factors, polluting air, water, food, physical factors - ultraviolet light, radiation, etc.).

Violations during child bearing, causing immunopathology in the unborn child

 -         Genetic factor;

-          Toxicosis of the first and second half of pregnancy (immune conflicts mother of the fetus, of which the fruit comes with serious lesions);

-          The threat of spontaneous abortion (miscarriage);

-          Various diseases of the pregnant woman and application of medical products;

-          Smoking, drinking, taking narcotic substances;

-          Work or life of the pregnant woman in the conditions associated with hazards (computer work, paint work), especially in the first half of pregnancy, when there is a very rapid formation of the fetus;

-           Inadequate diet of pregnant;

-          A violation period of carrying a pregnancy.