Question: What would cause immunocompromise?

Answer: Immunocompromisation can be caused by primary and secondary immunodeficiencies. Primary immunodeficiencies are rare genetic conditions where a part of the immune system is missing or not working properly. Examples include chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), and selective IgA deficiency. Secondary immunodeficiencies are acquired throughout a person's life and can result from various causes. Chronic diseases like autoimmune diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis), malignancies (leukemia, multiple myeloma), hepatic or renal insufficiency, and diabetes mellitus can impair immune system function. Medical treatments like corticosteroids, certain chemotherapies, treatments for organ transplantation rejection, and biological therapies can also cause immunodeficiencies. Infections like HIV, measles, herpes viruses, bacterial, mycobacterial, and parasitic infections can weaken the immune system. Malnutrition, burns, pregnancy, stress, asplenia, environmental radiation and toxin exposure, and old age have also been linked to a weakened immune system and increased infection risk.

Key facts the answer must include:
Severe combined immunodeficiency is a type of primary immunodeficiency.
 Hepatic or renal insufficiency can cause secondary immunodeficiencies.
 Stress can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infection.
 Asplenia can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infection.
 Malnutrition can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infection.
 Environmental exposure to radiation and toxins can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infection.
 Chronic granulomatous disease is a type of primary immunodeficiency.
 Selective IgA deficiency is a type of primary immunodeficiency.
 Burns can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infection.
 Old age is associated with a weakened immune system and an increased risk of infection.
 Common variable immunodeficiency is a type of primary immunodeficiency. Pregnancy can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infection.
 Medical treatments such as corticosteroids, some chemotherapies, treatments against rejection after organ transplantation and many biological therapies can cause secondary immunodeficiencies.
 Infections such as HIV, measles and herpes group viruses as well as some bacterial, mycobacterial and parasitic infections can weaken the immune system.
 Chronic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis can cause secondary immunodeficiencies.
 Diabetes mellitus can cause secondary immunodeficiencies.
 Some malignancies such as leukemia and multiple myeloma can cause secondary immunodeficiencies.
Additional relevant facts: Immunocompromisation is a situation in which a person's immune system is weakened, decreasing its ability to fight infections and other diseases.
 Primary immunodeficiencies are a group of more than 450 rare, chronic conditions of hereditary genetic defects in which a part of the body’s immune system is missing or does not function correctly.
 Secondary immunodeficiencies are a group of conditions in which the immunodeficiency is acquired throughout the person's life.