Case Study 3- Slide 5

Serum sickness-like reaction is a type 3 hypersensitivity reaction caused by antibodies against foreign proteins and certain medications. The antibodies bind to the drugs and form immune complexes that deposit in tissues, particularly in blood vessels, joints, and kidneys. This leads to an inflammatory response and symptoms such as fever, cytokine release, vasculitis, rashes, arthritis, and joint immune complex deposition. Pathophysiology of Problem 1. Serum sickness-like reaction, type 3 hypersensitivity reaction, occurs due to antibodies against foreign proteins and medications like cephalaxin. Antibodies bind to the drug-forming immune complexes. Complexes deposit in tissues, especially blood vessels, joints, and kidneys. Triggers inflammatory response. Symptoms, fever, cytokine release, vasculitis, rashes, arthritis, joint immune complex deposition.