187k views
1 vote
DiGeorge syndrome is a chromosomal disorder in which the thymus never develops/barely develops due to a deletion in a chromosome. Which of the following complications would you expect a child with DiGeorge syndrome to encounter?

A) The child will not possess any B lymphocytes and will be immunocompromised.
B) The space in which body fluid is filtered and pathogens are destroyed will be missing, so the child will be prone to life-threatening infections.
C) The child will possess very few T lymphocytes and will be immunocompromised.
D) The child will lose flow of lymph through the body, so recurrent edema will result.

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

DiGeorge syndrome is characterized by chromosomal deletion leading to thymus abnormalities, causing a deficiency in T lymphocytes and thus, an immunocompromised state. The correct answer is C) The child has very few T lymphocytes. Treatment for such primary immunodeficiency disorders may include bone marrow transplants, but these come with significant risks.

Step-by-step explanation:

DiGeorge Syndrome and Immunodeficiency

DiGeorge syndrome is a condition where a deletion on chromosome causes developmental issues including the improper development of the thymus, an organ crucial for the maturation of T lymphocytes (T cells). Complications from DiGeorge Syndrome often stem from the lack of a fully functional immune system, particularly due to the insufficient production of T cells. The correct answer to the question posed is C) The child will possess very few T lymphocytes and will be immunocompromised. This is because T cells are crucial for adaptive immunity which includes fighting pathogens and infections that the body has previously encountered, as well as helping B cells to produce antibodies. Without a functional thymus to develop T cells, the patient with DiGeorge syndrome would have a deficient adaptive immune response, increasing susceptibility to infections.

Immunodeficiency disorders such as this one are primary when congenital, meaning the individual is born with the condition. Treatments such as bone marrow transplants can be lifesaving by reconstituting a patient's immune system, given the proliferative properties of hematopoietic stem cells found in bone marrow. However, this procedure carries risks as outlined by the example of David Vetter, who was affected by the related but more severe condition known as SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency), and ultimately passed away after complications from a bone marrow transplant.

User Tom Mesgert
by
8.1k points