In: Biology
Describe why males are far more likely to be affected with “hyper IgM syndrome”?
Hyper IgM syndrome is a class of rare immunodeficiency disorders which affects the immune system functioning. They are characterized by irregularity in the cell development or cell maturation process of the immune system. The immune system provides various components, such as T-cells, B-cells and antibodies and together they defend the body against pathogenic agents.
Hyper IgM syndromes is a rare yet life-threatening genetic mutations which causes failure of immune system, leading to inability for production of antibodies. Such patients are at major risk for opportunistic and recurrent infections.Few individuals may also have normally high levels of immunoglobulin IgM, in the plasma. Hence the syndrome gets it name “hyper IgM” syndrome.
Hyper IgM syndrome is inherit the disorder in an X-linked recessive pattern. Since it is X-linked disorder, the disorder predominately affects male and is mostly inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. However it affects men and women equally.