Which set of investigations is used to evaluate combined T and B cell defects?

Prepare for the Internal Medicine II Test with engaging flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question is detailed with hints and explanations. Gear up your knowledge for success!

Multiple Choice

Which set of investigations is used to evaluate combined T and B cell defects?

When evaluating suspected combined T and B cell defects, you want tests that reveal both the numbers of those lymphocyte populations and whether they can mount a functional antibody response. A complete blood count gives a general picture and can indicate lymphopenia. Lymphocyte subsets determination by flow cytometry tells you how many T cells and B cells are present (and can differentiate helper, cytotoxic, and naive/memory subsets), revealing quantitative defects in one or both lineages. The antibody response to vaccination assesses functional humoral immunity by measuring specific antibody production after immunization, showing whether B cells can productively respond and generate protective antibodies. Other tests like the NBT test, chemotaxis, or phagocytosis examine innate or phagocytic neutrophil function and do not address the adaptive immune components (T and B cells or antibody production), so they wouldn’t effectively identify combined T and B cell defects.

When evaluating suspected combined T and B cell defects, you want tests that reveal both the numbers of those lymphocyte populations and whether they can mount a functional antibody response. A complete blood count gives a general picture and can indicate lymphopenia. Lymphocyte subsets determination by flow cytometry tells you how many T cells and B cells are present (and can differentiate helper, cytotoxic, and naive/memory subsets), revealing quantitative defects in one or both lineages. The antibody response to vaccination assesses functional humoral immunity by measuring specific antibody production after immunization, showing whether B cells can productively respond and generate protective antibodies.

Other tests like the NBT test, chemotaxis, or phagocytosis examine innate or phagocytic neutrophil function and do not address the adaptive immune components (T and B cells or antibody production), so they wouldn’t effectively identify combined T and B cell defects.

More practice questions