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Immunology Expertise

See an Immunodeficiency Specialist in New Orleans

Dr. Reena Mehta is a board-certified immunologist in New Orleans that can help you and your children thrive over immunodeficiency disorders. Learn about immunodeficiency disorders, symptoms, testing, diagnosis, and treatment options including immunoglobulin replacement therapy.

“I was a patient of Dr. Mehta for a number of years and have always found her to not only be a smart and superb physician, but a most caring and attentive person. Dr. Mehta is detail-oriented, always explains everything and is very supportive. She is the epitome of what a doctor should be and more. I highly recommend her as a specialist in immunology!“

– Ellen W, December 2018

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Immunodeficiency specialist Dr. Reena Mehta in New Orleans, LA

About Immunodeficiency Disorders

Overview

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Management

The immune system is made up of white blood cells, antibodies, and other specialized cells and proteins that work together to defend the body against bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Immunodeficiency disorders compromise your immune system, disrupting your body’s ability to fight off disease.

There are two types of immunodeficiency disorders:

Primary Immunodeficiency
Acquired Immunodeficiency

Immunodeficiency is usually noticed by a pattern of repeated infections that are unusually hard to cure. Infections may attack the skin, respiratory system, ears, brain, spinal cord, urinary tract, or gastrointestinal tract.

Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders

Primary immunodeficiency is hereditary or genetic, meaning that you are born with it. Primary immunodeficiency can target specific and/or multiple organs, glands, cells, and tissues, leading to a wide variety of different defects, such as heart defects, altered facial features, stunted growth, and autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis.

There are over 300 different primary immunodeficiency disorders. Specific primary immunodeficiency disorders include:

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA)
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)
Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), also known as alymphocytosis

Acquired Immunodeficiency Disorders

Acquired immunodeficiency, also called secondary immunodeficiency, can occur when something weakens your immune system. Severe burns, malnutrition, HIV, and certain medications like chemotherapy or systemic steroids can cause acquired immunodeficiency. Acquired immunodeficiency disorders include:

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)

Cancers of the immune system

Immune-complex diseases, like viral hepatitis

Multiple myeloma (cancer of the plasma cells, which produce antibodies)

Immunodeficiency Signs & Symptoms

Recurrent infections are the most telling symptom of an immunodeficiency disorder. Other symptoms include:

Poor growth or loss of weight
Recurrent pneumonia, ear infections or sinusitis
Multiple courses of antibiotics or IV antibiotics necessary to clear infections
Recurrent deep abscesses of the organs or skin
A family history of primary immunodeficiency
Swollen lymph glands or an enlarged spleen
Autoimmune disease

Serious primary immunodeficiency disorders typically become apparent in infancy, however, antibody deficiencies may present in older children or adults.

Immunodeficiency Diagnosis

Diagnosing an immunodeficiency disorder starts with seeing the right specialist. An immunologist has specialized training and expertise to diagnose and coordinate a management plan for immunodeficiency disorders.

Blood Tests

If your immunologist suspects an immunodeficiency disorder, blood tests are used to determine your white blood cell, T cell, and immunoglobulin counts. Abnormal numbers of certain cells can indicate an immune system defect.

A doctor drawing blood to test for immunodeficiency.

Prenatal Testing

If you have a child with a primary immunodeficiency disorder, you may want to be tested for certain immunodeficiency disorders during future pregnancies. Prenatal testing is done by taking samples of amniotic fluid, blood or cells from tissue that will become the placenta; or testing for a genetic defect in DNA.

Immunodeficiency Management

Treatment for immunodeficiency disorders is targeted toward the specific immune defects, so the exact course of management varies from person to person. Treatments can include:

Bone marrow, stem cell, or thymus transplantation
Immunoglobulin (antibody) replacement
Gene therapy
Antibiotics to manage and prevent infections
Strategies to manage autoimmune disease

Immunoglobulin Replacement Therapy

Immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IgG) is one of the most common therapies prescribed for primary immunodeficiency diseases. Though it does not cure immunodeficiency, it does provide the body with more immunoglobulins (antibodies) to fight off infections. Routine treatment with immunoglobulin replacement therapy can treat existing infections, prevent new infections from occurring, and prevent long-term organ damage from chronic infections. There are two different types of immunoglobulin replacement therapy: intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg).

Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG)

Intravenous immunoglobulin is infused directly into the vein, and therefore must be done in a clinic or at home under the supervision of nursing staff. Treatment sessions take 2 to 4 hours and are administered about once a month. The exact dose and frequency of treatment can vary depending on your weight and your immunoglobulin levels.

Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin (SCIg)

Unlike IVIG, subcutaneous immunoglobulin can be self-administered by patients at home using a special pump. With SCIg, the antibody preparation is slowly infused directly under the skin. Therapy is administered once or more each week and usually takes 30 to 60 minutes per treatment session.

See an Immunodeficiency Specialist in New Orleans

If you suspect that you or your children are dealing with an immunodeficiency disorder, it is strongly recommended that you see an immunologist. Dr. Mehta has a reputation for developing strong relationships with her patients and being exceptionally attentive to their needs and concerns.