Question

Why might the doctor want to know if the patient is having a primary or secondary immune response?

Answer 1

PRIMARY IMMUNE RESPONSE

*First contact of an exogenous antigen generates an response.

*Production of antibody producing plasma cells and memory B cells, here fresh B cells /naive B cells are produced which never have antigenic exposure.

* It have 4 phases , 1) Lag phases, 2) Log phases, 3) Plateau phases, 4) Decline phases

1) Lag phase: B cells undergo poliferation and differentiation to form memory cells and plasma cells.

Lag phase varies from 4 -7 days ( seven hours to days / weeks).

Factors depend are: type & amount of antigen,species and health condition of patient route of administration.

2) Log phases: Followed by a logarithmic phase

The titre of antibody rises steadily

IgM antibodies are produced

3) Plateau phase: In this phase antibody titre is stable

4) Decline phase : The antibody titre decreses, a fall in antibody titre.   

* Lower antibody affinity and low titre of antibody

SECONDARY IMMUNE RESPONSE

*The subsequent exposure of the same antigen leads to secondaryu response.

*It produces memory B cells.

*It is a quick reaction, having a short lag phase.

*Plateau phase is more extended

* IgG antibody is produced , IgE and IgA also produce.

* Higher antibody affinity and high antibody titre

* Time peak response is 3-5 days

The doctor want to know the patient having primary or secomdary response inorder to prescibe the medicine. The dosage of the medicine depend on the immune respone that the patient have. There should be changes in the medicine when compared to the primary and secoondary immune response. The secondary attack of the same antigen may be causes high infection than the primary attack, so the medicine also change for same diseases in these two condition. Moreover the secondary attack sometimes lethal to patient.