Type I hypersensitivity

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Type I hypersensitivity

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USMLE® Step 1 style questions USMLE

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A 40-year-old woman comes to the emergency department after developing dyspnea, hives, and audible wheezing. The patient accidentally ingested peanuts an hour ago,  to which she has a known allergy. Which of the following is the most likely underlying mechanism of this patient’s condition?  

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Asthma p. 692

type I hypersensitivity p. 110

Eczema

type I hypersensitivity p. 110

Hay fever

type I hypersensitivity p. 110

IgE antibodies p. 103

type I hypersensitivity p. 110

Rhinitis

type I hypersensitivity p. 110

Type I hypersensitivity p. 110

IgE antibodies and p. 103

Type I hypersensitivity reactions

mast cells and p. 409

Urticaria p. 483, 485

as type I hypersensitivity p. 111

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Having a hypersensitivity means that someone’s immune system has reacted to something in such a way that it ends up damaging them, as opposed to protecting them.

There are four different types of hypersensitivities, and in the first type or type one, the reactions rely on Immunoglobulin E, or IgE antibody, which is a specific type of antibody - the other major ones being IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgD.

So because IgE is involved with type one hypersensitivity reactions they are also called IgE-mediated hypersensitivities.

This type of reaction is also sometimes called immediate hypersensitivities, because the reaction happens super fast—on the order of minutes.

So most allergic reactions are IgE-mediated, and therefore most allergies are type I hypersensitivity reactions.

Allergy” comes from the Greek Allos which roughly means “other” and ergon which means “reactivity”.

Essentially, allergies are reactions to molecules from outside your own body that most people don’t react to—and these are specific molecules from things you might breathe or take in like foods, animal dander, bee stings, mold, drugs or medications, and pollen.

You can also mount an allergic reaction to things you come in contact with on your skin like latex, lotions, and soaps.

These specific molecules are also called antigens, and when they cause an allergic reaction, they’re called allergens.

An allergic reaction happens in two steps, a first exposure, or sensitization, and then a subsequent exposure, which is when it gets a lot more serious.

People that react to these allergens usually have a genetic predisposition to having over-reactions to unknown molecules or allergens.

Summary

Type I hypersensitivity is a type of allergic reaction that occurs when the immune system overreacts to an otherwise harmless substance, such as pollen, dust, or certain foods. It is characterized by the rapid release of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in response to the allergen. In Type I hypersensitivity, the allergen triggers the production of IgE antibodies, which bind to specific receptors on mast cells and basophils in various tissues throughout the body. The next time the person is exposed to the same allergen, it triggers the release of histamine and other chemicals, causing the typical symptoms of an allergic reaction. Common examples of Type I hypersensitivity reactions include allergic rhinitis, asthma, hives, and anaphylaxis. Treatment options include avoiding the allergen, taking antihistamines and other medications, and in severe cases, using epinephrine to manage anaphylaxis.

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