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CLASSIFICATION

  • Polyclonal lymphocyte and plasma cell disorders can be classified into two major groups: primary disorders and acquired disorders. See Table 49–1.

    — Primary disorders result from defects intrinsic to B lymphocytes (eg, X-linked agammaglobulinemia), T lymphocytes (eg, congenital thymic aplasia), and/or natural killer cells, the latter usually coupled with a B- or T-cell deficiency (eg, interleukin-7 receptor α-chain deficiency) (see Chap. 51).

    — Acquired disorders result from physiologic or pathophysiologic responses to extrinsic factors, usually infectious agents (eg, Epstein-Barr virus or human immunodeficiency virus) (see Chaps. 52 and 53).

  • Monoclonal (neoplastic) lymphocyte and plasma cell disorders are discussed in Part VIII and are classified in Chap. 54. Specific neoplastic disorders are discussed in Chaps. 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72.

  • Lymphocyte disorders can have clinical manifestations that are not restricted to cells of the immune system (eg, leprosy or systemic lupus erythematosus).

  • In some cases, classification is influenced by disease manifestations:

    — Diseases caused by production of pathologic autoantibodies (eg, autoimmune hemolytic disease [see Chaps. 2225] and autoimmune thrombocytopenia [see Chap. 74]).

    — Diseases caused by excess production of lymphocyte cytokines (eg, chronic inflammatory disorders).

TABLE 49–1CLASSIFICATION OF NONCLONAL DISORDERS OF LYMPHOCYTES AND PLASMA CELLS

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