An 8-month-old boy infant with a 3-month history of recurrent upper and lower respiratory tract infections is admitted to the hospital.The physicians consider the possibility of a hereditary immune disorder and run several tests,eventually determining that the patient has undetectable levels of serum IgA.The infant is treated with strong antibiotics and recovers.Which of the following is NOT a medical problem likely to occur in this patient as he gets older?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lack of IgA causes decreased immune function in the respiratory and gastrointestinal mucosa,resulting in increased risk of sinus,lower respiratory tract,and gastrointestinal tract infections.In addition,IgA binds to and prevents immune responses to food constituents such as lactose and wheat gluten.Finally,the complete lack of IgA in some of these patients means that IgA itself is immunogenic.Because antibodies that are capable of interacting with IgA-like molecules are often being produced by B1 B cells,it is not uncommon to see a hypersensitivity reaction,including anaphylaxis,if these patients receive a blood transfusion.Normally,IgA is not on the skin,and there is no connection between IgA deficiency and inflammatory skin diseases.

An 8-Month-Old Boy Infant with a 3-Month History of Recurrent