What is the expected result for a child with humoral immunodeficiency after vaccination with diphtheria/tetanus?

What is the expected result for a child with humoral immunodeficiency after vaccination with diphtheria/tetanus?

• A. Increased levels of specific antibody
• B. No change in the level of specific antibody
• C. An increase in IgG-specific antibody but not IgM-specific antibody
• D. Increased levels of nonspecific antibody

Answer: (B)

In a child with humoral immunodeficiency, the expected result after vaccination with diphtheria/tetanus is no change in the level of specific antibody. This condition is characterized by a compromised ability to produce antibodies in response to antigens, such as those found in vaccines. When such a child receives the diphtheria and tetanus vaccine, their immune system typically fails to produce an adequate or effective response to generate the specific antibodies needed to combat these infections. While healthy individuals would respond to the vaccine by producing increased levels of specific antibodies against diphtheria and tetanus, a child with humoral immunodeficiency lacks the necessary B cell function or antibody production capability needed for this response. Therefore, the outcome of vaccination would show no significant change in antibody levels specific to these pathogens, highlighting the limitations of the immune system in such patients. The other choices imply varying degrees of immune response that are not consistent with the characteristics of humoral immunodeficiency, where adequate production of specific antibodies would be absent or minimal.

In a child with humoral immunodeficiency, the expected result after vaccination with diphtheria/tetanus is no change in the level of specific antibody. This condition is characterized by a compromised ability to produce antibodies in response to antigens, such as those found in vaccines. When such a child receives the diphtheria and tetanus vaccine, their immune system typically fails to produce an adequate or effective response to generate the specific antibodies needed to combat these infections.

While healthy individuals would respond to the vaccine by producing increased levels of specific antibodies against diphtheria and tetanus, a child with humoral immunodeficiency lacks the necessary B cell function or antibody production capability needed for this response. Therefore, the outcome of vaccination would show no significant change in antibody levels specific to these pathogens, highlighting the limitations of the immune system in such patients.

The other choices imply varying degrees of immune response that are not consistent with the characteristics of humoral immunodeficiency, where adequate production of specific antibodies would be absent or minimal.