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Query: UMLS:C0021051 (immunodeficiency)
 71,517 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Declining immunosurveillance in old age has been considered one possible explanation for the increased incidence of cancer in the elderly. This study was set up to search for evidence of persistent immunodeficiency in patients with a past history of cancer. Lymphocyte responses to phytohaemagglutinin and cutaneous delayed hypersensivity were assessed in fifty-seven elderly subjects who had successfully completed treatment for cancer more than 18 months previously and compared with those of forty-three healthy controls matched for age and sex. Although a significant difference between mean tritiated thymidine uptake was observed in the lymphocyte response to phytohaemagglutinin (cancer patients 1859 cpm, control 2502 cpm), this could be explained by an unexpectedly prolonged effect of radiotherapy. Mean counts for those twenty-six cancer patients receiving radiotherapy within the period 18 months to 4 years were low (1257 cpm), but were normal (2366 cpm) for the remainder. A significant negative correlation of lymphocyte transformation with age was confirmed in both groups. There was no significant difference in cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity response to commonly encountered antigens. Whilst recognising that these tests do not comprehensively assess immune function, the present results provide no support for the theory that an age-related decline in immune function contributes to the heightened incidence of cancer in the elderly.
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PMID:Lymphocyte transformation to phytohaemagglutinin and delayed hypersensitivity related to age and previous cancer history. 49 88

Environmental interactions with the immune system may result in two types of adverse outcomes: immunodeficiency and immunopathology. Serious immunodeficiency most commonly results from ionizing radiation or as a recognized side effect of iatrogenic drug therapy, usually cancer chemotherapy. At present there is little basis for believing that biologically significant suppression of immune competence in man results from more subtle interactions with environmental agents. On the other hand, environmentally triggered immunopathology is a source of considerable morbidity and mortality. Additional research is needed in the following areas: (a) basic mechanisms of immunopathological reactions; (b) development of methods for accurately implicating or excluding immunological mechanisms in the etiology of hypersensitivity states; (c) development of methods for assessing in advance the potential immunogenicity of new industrial chemicals and occupational allergens; (d) identification of the risk factors which predispose to immunopathological outcomes when individuals are exposed to sensitizing chemicals or other "natural" allergens.
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PMID:Environmental influences on the immune system and allergic reactions. 59 54

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the commonest type of leukemia seen in Western countries. It affects an older group of individuals than most other varieties of leukemia, and men more often than women, in a ratio of 2:1. The incidence of CLL is significantly increased in some families. In most instances, CLL is due to the overgrowth or accumulation of immunoglobulin producing B lymphocytes. Hypogammaglobulinemia is a common feature, and anomalous immunoglobulin components occur in 3 to 5% of patients. The early symptoms and signs of CLL include fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, enlarged lymph nodes, and splenomegaly. Fever, weight loss, and impairment of bone marrow function, with anemia, bleeding and susceptibility to infection are characteristic of severe or advanced disease. In the great majority of patients, the disease can be controlled for 6 to 10 or more years with simple regimens using chlorambucil or cyclophosphamide, often in combination with prednisone. Radiotherapy and splenectomy are useful in some instances. The terminal phase of the disease is characterized by exacerbation or increasing severity of the leukemia and the development of opportunistic infections associated with immunodeficiency.
Cancer 1978 Aug
PMID:Chronic lymphocytic leukemia. 68 76

Two patients had adenocarcinoma of the stomach in association with common variable immunodeficiency syndrome. There has been an increased prevalence of malignancy in this late-onset immunodeficient state. Similar to five previously reported cases, our patients had gastric carcinoma as a late complication. Further documentation of this association stresses the need for long-term follow-up in this premalignant condition.
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PMID:Adenocarcinoma of the stomach with common variable immunodeficiency syndrome. 71 18

Cancer is a generic term for a variant manifestation of life caused by genetic mutations of somatic cells. It is not only carcinogenesis which is basically a genetic phenomenon, but also tumor progression which can be influenced by various genetic factors. A group of tumors is known to be inherited in a Mendelian fashion. In addition a great number of single gene disorders is associated with the development of maligne tumors. The further study of these diseases will allow new insights into the fundamental mechanisms leading to clinical cancer. In this respect a series of immunodeficiency diseases is of particular interest. Several organ tumors which seem to occur more frequently in relatives of tumor patients are of practical importance. A more sophisticated classification of these tumors may illuminate their genetic behavior. The geneticist cannot only define groups of individuals with a high cancer risk, but he can identify genetic, e.g. chromosomal, aberrations of cancerous cells which enables him the early detection of neoplasia.
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PMID:[Early diagnosis of neoplasms]. 72 76

Immunological factors are involved in all aspects of the lymphomas and leukaemias. The aetiology of these diseases is related at least in some cases to immunodeficiency, immunostimulation, autoimmunity and a dysregulation of the immune system. The majority of lymphomas and leukaemias are monoclonal proliferations of the B-lymphocyte series at different stages of maturation while some are derived from T lymphocytes and others have no recognisable B or T-cell markers. Each of the lymphoid malignancies has a characteristic and unique pattern of immunological deficiency, suggesting a unique aetiology. Hodgkin's disease and histiocytic lymphoma, the acute leukaemias and chronic myelogenous leukaemia have predominantly cell-mediated immune deficiencies, while lymphocytic lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, multiple myeloma, and the plasma cell dyscrasias have predominantly humoral immune deficiencies. There is a relationship between immunocompetence and prognosis and between immunocompetence and extent of disease in the lymphomas and leukaemias. Immunocompetent patients have a better prognosis and more limited disease than immunoincompetent patients. Therapy for these diseases profoundly suppresses host defence mechanisms, particularly those which are cell-mediated. Ability to resist or recover from this immunosuppression is also associated with an improved prognosis. Lymphoma and leukaemia also induce a tumour-specific immune response in the tumour-bearing host and this also correlates with prognosis. These factors form a rational basis for immunotherapy and indeed lymphomas and leukaemias respond to active nonspecific immunotherapy with BCG and active specific immunotherapy with tumor cells resulting in prolongation of remission duration and survival.
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PMID:Effect of haematological malignancies and their treatment on host defence factors. 78 32

The main features of Dubowiz syndrome are bird headed dwarfism and a typical facial configuration. Including two own patients 13 cases among 8 siblings are known in the literature. Two own cases of Dubowitz syndrome in two sisters are described, one of them with hypogammaglobulinemia and neuroblastoma, the other one with complete Ig A deficiency and malignant lymphoma. A propable relationship between immundeficiency and malignancies is discussed. Until 1973 151 malignant tumors with primary immundeficiency had been registrated. This paper is the first description of two cases of Dubowitz syndrome with immunodeficiency and malignant neoplasms.
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PMID:[Dubowitz syndrome with immunodeficiency and solid malignant tumor in two siblings (author's transl)]. 91 26

General cell-mediated immune (CMI) functions in NPC patients were investigated by the in vivo Mantoux and in vitro lymphocyte response to PHA assays. Thirty-eight (50%) of 76 untreated NPC patients were hyporesponsive in the Mantoux assay compared to 27 (25%) of 110 control patients. Forty-three (65.2%) of 66 untreated NPC patients also showed lymphocyte hyporesponsiveness to PHA compared to 15 (15.5%) of 97 control patients. Combined deficiencies were observed in 35 (42.2%) of 83 NPC patients compared to only 2 (3.3%) of 61 control patients. No difference in the frequency of immunodeficiency was observed between "early" and "late" disease patients. CMI functions of treated "remission" NPC patients were found to be impaired to the same extent as those of untreated NPC patients.
Int J Cancer 1976 Aug 15
PMID:Impaired general cell-mediated immune functions in vivo and in vitro in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. 95 40

The clinical and radiographic features of twenty-two cases of ataxia-telangiectasia are reviewed. Severity of pulmonary manifestations tended to correlate closely with severity of immunodeficiency. Observations are made upon the problem of intercurrent malignancy in ataxia-telangiectasia. The radiographic studies of patients seen at the National Institutes of Health with A-T were reviewed retrospectively and correlated with degrees of immunodeficiency determined clinically. Three fairly distinct groups with high, intermediate and low incidence of sinopulmonary disease were found. Comment is made on the problem of increased malignancy in A-T and possible clues in the detection by the radiologist.
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PMID:Ataxia-telangiectasia. 95 65

Ionizing radiation used for diagnosis or therapy has been associated with an increased incidence of malignancies of blood-forming organs. The increased incidence of hematopoietic malignancies following exposure to ionizing radiation obtained in the course of occupation, diagnosis and therapy of disease, or as a weapon of war is documented. The natural occurrence and the induced progression to acute leukemia of polycythemia rubra vera, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, Di Guglielmo's disease, and reticuloendothelial malignancies are discussed. The status of transplantation and immunodeficiency states and their relationship to acute leukemia is reviewed. Finally, drugs, toxins, and the use of cytotoxic radiomimetic agents for nonmalignant purposes are shown to lead to the development of acute leukemia. Background information relevant to the proper use of future diagnostic and therapeutic modalities is provided.
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PMID:Malignancies in blood-forming organs following diagnostic and therapeutic procedures: a review. 106 32


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