Chapter 31: Assessment of Immune Function

Activation of a natural immunity response is enhanced by physical and chemical barriers. Which of the following is a physical barrier, which the nurse knows can be altered by illness, nutrition, or lifestyle? a) Enzymes in saliva b) Acidic gastric secretions c) Mucus d) Cilia of the respiratory tract

Cilia of the respiratory tract Explanation: Cilia are considered a physical barrier, along with intact skin and mucous membranes.

The nurse is caring for a female patient who has an exacerbation of lupus erythematosus. What does the nurse understand is the reason that females tend to develop autoimmune disorders more frequently than men? a) Testosterone tends to enhance immunity. b) Androgen tends to enhance immunity. c) Leukocytes are increased in females. d) Estrogen tends to enhance immunity.

Estrogen tends to enhance immunity. Explanation: Autoimmune disorders tend to be more common in women because estrogen tends to enhance immunity. Androgen, on the other hand, tends to be immunosuppressive.

Which adverse effect should the nurse closely monitor in a client who takes immunosuppressive drugs? a) Heart failure, infusion reactions, and life-threatening infections b) Depression, memory impairment, and coma c) Respiratory or urinary system infections d) Rheumatoid arthritis

Respiratory or urinary system infections Explanation: When taking drugs to suppress the immune system, the client is vulnerable to an increased risk of infection, especially in the respiratory or urinary systems. Depression, memory impairment, and coma are dose-related effects of cytokines, which are biologic response modifiers. Heart failure, infusion reactions, and life-threatening infections are possible adverse effects of taking infliximab, which minimizes inflammation. In addition, cytokines and infliximab are not immunosuppressive drugs. Moreover, immunosuppressive drugs are not known to cause rheumatoid arthritis.

A 34-year-old client is diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C. Testing reveals that the client is a candidate for treatment. The nurse anticipates that which therapy could be used to treat the client's condition? a) Erythropoietin b) Interferon c) Interleukin-5 d) Monoclonal antibodies

Interferon Explanation: Interferons are used to treat immune-related disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis) and chronic inflammatory conditions (e.g., chronic hepatitis).

Which of the following is accurate regarding acquired immunity? Select all that apply. a) Can develop by contracting a disease b) Also know as innate immunity c) An immunologic response acquired during life but not present at birth d) Usually develops as a result of exposure to an antigen through immunization e) A nonspecific immunity present at birth

- An immunologic response acquired during life but not present at birth - Usually develops as a result of exposure to an antigen through immunization - Can develop by contracting a disease Explanation: Acquired immunity is a immunologic responses acquired during life but not present at birth, and usually develops as a result of exposure to an antigen through immunization (vaccination) or by contracting a disease, both of which generate a protective immune response. Natural (innate) immunity is a nonspecific immunity present at birth that provides protection against an infectious agent without ever encountering it before.