WBR0681

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Author [[PageAuthor::Serge Korjian M.D. (Reviewed by Serge Korjian)]]
Exam Type ExamType::USMLE Step 1
Main Category MainCategory::Immunology
Sub Category SubCategory::General Principles
Prompt [[Prompt::A 1-year-old boy is brought by his mother to the pediatrics clinic for recurrent infections. Following a complete work-up, the patient is found to have very elevated serum concentrations of the immunoglobulin shown below. The patient also has deficient serum concentrations of all other immunoglobulin classes. Which of the following best characterizes the patient's condition?

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Answer A AnswerA::Defect in B-cell maturation
Answer A Explanation AnswerAExp::Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is due to a defect in B-cell maturation.
Answer B AnswerB::Inability of T cells to reorganize actin cytoskeleton
Answer B Explanation AnswerBExp::Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome is characterized by the inability of T cells to reorganize actin cytoskeleton.
Answer C AnswerC::Failure of Th1 cells to produce IFN-gamma
Answer C Explanation AnswerCExp::Hyper-IgE syndrome is characterized by the failure of Th1 cells to produce IFN-gamma.
Answer D AnswerD::Defect of the BTK gene
Answer D Explanation AnswerDExp::X-linked (Bruton's) agammaglobulinemia is characterized by a defective BTK gene.
Answer E AnswerE::Defective CD40L on helper T cells
Answer E Explanation AnswerEExp::Hyper-IgM syndrome is characterized by defective CD40L on helper T cells
Right Answer RightAnswer::E
Explanation [[Explanation::The patient has elevated levels of IgM, which is a pentamer that is produced in the immediate response against pathogens. The shape of IgM is important to allow it to maximally trap antigens. Given the patient's elevated IgM, and deficiency of all other Ig classes, he most likely suffers from hyper IgM syndrome. Hyper IgM syndrome (type 1)is an X-linked disorder caused by a defective CD40L on helper T cells. CD40L (L for Ligand) binds to CD40 on antigen presenting cells, and it's deficiency or mutation prevents immunoglobulin class switching, leading to a deficiency in all classes of immunoglobulin except IgM the primary immunoglobulin produced by B-cells during an antigen response. Four other types of hyper IgM syndrome have bee characterized, all with different modes of inheritance and different mutations involving any of the receptors involved in immunoglobulin class switching. Patients with hyper IgM syndrome classically present with recurrent pyogenic infections (among which Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia is very common) due to the inability to mount an appropriate immune response, particularly with the lack of secretory IgA.

Educational Objective: IgM is a pentamer. It is increased in hyper IgM syndrome, that is commonly caused by a defective CD40L on helper T cells.
References: Image attribution: Artur Jan Fijałkowski
Etzioni A, Ochs HD. The hyper IgM syndrome--an evolving story. Pediatr Res. 2004;56(4):519-25.
First Aid 2015 page 205]]

Approved Approved::Yes
Keyword WBRKeyword::Hyper IgM, WBRKeyword::hyper-IgM, WBRKeyword::Recurrent infection, WBRKeyword::Infections, WBRKeyword::CD40L, WBRKeyword::Class switching, WBRKeyword::Immunoglobulin, WBRKeyword::Pentamer
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