Chapter 16
Disorders in Immunity
A 55-year-old woman was working in her yard when she collapsed. The paramedics were
called and she was taken to the hospital. She was found to have hives all over her body,
swelling in her limbs, and her tongue was swollen. She was unconscious with low blood
pressure and an irregular heart rhythm. Her heart stopped shortly after reaching the
hospital; after 30 minutes of treatment, her heart rhythm returned, but she suffered a
massive stroke and eventually died.
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Facts of the Case
A 55-year-old woman collapsed while working in her yard.
Her symptoms included hives, swollen arms and legs, and swollen tongue.
Her blood pressure was low and her heart rhythm was irregular.
Her heart stopped in the hospital, and after it was restarted she suffered a massive
stroke and eventually died.
Student questions:
1. What causes anaphylaxis? What is the difference between cutaneous and
systemic anaphylaxis? What are typical allergens that can cause this reaction
in a small percentage of the population?
2. What is the role of mast cells and basophils in allergy? Why are these cells so
capable of producing such a strong response when exposed for the second
time to an allergen?
3. Most allergic responses do not usually cause death in those affected. List
three different types of allergic disease. What allergens usually cause these
diseases?
4. How is it that mast cells and basophils are capable of responding so strongly
to a second encounter with antigen?”
5. What kinds of therapies can be used to combat allergies? How do these
therapies work?
6. The woman in this case was found to be allergic to wasp venom. How might
this have turned out had she been treated at the scene by her daughter?
What could the daughter have done to treat her?
7. The immunoglobulin class responsible for allergy is IgE, which is present at
high concentrations in persons with an allergy, but also present in trace
quantities in the sera of non-allergic individuals. Why do non-allergic
individuals still produce IgE? Of what value is this antibody?