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Antibody Deficiency Syndrome
Antibody deficiency syndromes (ADS) are defined by the inability of the organism to maintain sufficient concentrations of specific antibodies in circulation. The carriers of antibodies, the immunoglobulins, are a well-defined class of plasma proteins. Some of the pertinent knowledge on their structure and function is briefly summarized. Clinical classification of ADS may be based on different criteria: etiological and pathogenetic views are here used according to needs. Primary ADS are the result of deficient synthesis, and secondary ADS are due to increased catabolism and/or loss of antibodies. Etiological factors in primary ADS are congenital disturbances (hereditary deficiency, e.g. agammaglobulinemia), regulatory imbalances (e.g. infantile hypogammaglobulinemia) or acquired disease (e.g. malignant monoclonal lymphoma). Related Links
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