Immunoproliferative disorders are disorders of the
immune system that are characterized by the abnormal proliferation of the primary cells of the immune system, which includes
B cell
B cells, also known as B lymphocytes, are a type of white blood cell of the lymphocyte subtype. They function in the humoral immunity component of the adaptive immune system. B cells produce antibody molecules which may be either secreted or ...
s,
T cells and
natural killer (NK) cells, or by the excessive production of
immunoglobulin
An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large, Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique molecule of the ...
s (also known as antibodies).
Classes
These disorders are subdivided into three main classes, which are
lymphoproliferative disorders,
hypergammaglobulinemia, and
paraproteinemia.
[Health Communication Network. Immunoproliferative disorders - Topic Tree.
http://www.use.hcn.com.au/subject.%60Immunoproliferative%20Disorders%60/home.html. Accessed March 2007.] The first is cellular, and the other two are humoral (however, humoral excess can be secondary to cellular excess.)
* ''Lymphoproliferative disorders'' (LPDs) refer to several conditions in which lymphocytes are produced in excessive quantities. They typically occur in patients who have compromised immune systems. This subset is sometimes incorrectly equated with "immunoproliferative disorders".
* Humoral
** ''Hypergammaglobulinemia'' is characterized by increased levels of
immunoglobulin
An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large, Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique molecule of the ...
s in the blood serum. Five different hypergammaglobulinemias are caused by an excess of
immunoglobulin M
Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is one of several isotypes of antibody (also known as immunoglobulin) that are produced by vertebrates. IgM is the largest antibody, and it is the first antibody to appear in the response to initial exposure to an antig ...
(IgM), and some types are caused by a deficiency in the other major types of immunoglobulins.
** ''Paraproteinemia'' or ''monoclonal gammopathy'' is the presence of excessive amounts of a single monoclonal gammaglobulin (called a ''paraprotein'') in the blood.
See also
*
Myeloproliferative disease
References
External links
{{Lymphoid malignancy
Immune system disorders