Клинична имунология
Clinical immunology is responsible for participating in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to impaired immune system function. The immune system is part of the overall neuro-endocrine-immune regulation of the body. Immune cells and tissues are present in all the tissues and organs of the human body.
A healthy immune system distinguishes between “foreign” and “self,” “dangerous” and “harmless,” and possesses a vast array of mechanisms to respond to different situations.
Disrupted immune mechanisms can affect any organ or system, just as diseases of various organs and systems can lead to impaired functioning of the immune system. The immune system must remain balanced - neither too “weak” nor too “strong.”
Immune-mediated diseases can be categorized into several groups:
- Immunodeficiencies (congenital and acquired - the immune system is unable to respond to and neutralize dangerous foreign organisms such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, etc.)
- Tumor immunology – concerns the ability of the immune system to eliminate newly formed cancer cells and tissues, which appear daily in the body under the influence of environmental factors such as radiation, toxic substances, etc.
- Autoimmune diseases - the immune system attacks and damages the body’s own tissues; it can affect any organ.
- Allergies - the immune system reacts excessively to harmless irritants such as pollen, house dust, etc.
- Transplantation immunology - knowledge in this field makes successful tissue and organ transplants possible.
- Reproductive immunology - explores immunological causes of infertility through laboratory testing and immunological methods for overcoming it.
Understanding immune mechanisms in various diseases enables the discovery of new methods for early diagnosis (laboratory immunological tests), immunoprophylaxis (vaccines), and immunotherapy (so-called biological therapy).
Clinical immunologists work in close collaboration with colleagues from different medical specialties to assist in the timely diagnosis by ordering, conducting, and interpreting highly specialized immunological laboratory tests. When necessary, immunotherapy is prescribed and administered to support the treatment process.
The invention of vaccines (immunoprophylaxis) is one of the most valuable discoveries in medicine — particularly in immunology — as it has prevented the spread and transmission of severe, deadly infectious diseases and has saved millions of human lives.
