A 75-year-old man has a history of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. He has had treatment with several
courses of chemotherapy and has now been admitted to hospital with pneumonia.
His medical history revealed that he had suffered several previous upper respiratory tract infections
over the previous six months.
Which of the following components of his immune system is likely to be deficient?
Complement
Immunoglobulin G This is the correct answer
Macrophages
Mast cells
T lymphocytes
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is commonly complicated by panhypogammaglobulinaemia.
Although intravenous immunoglobulin prevents recurrent infections it does not prolong survival.