Copy of `Dorland's Medical Dictionary`

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Dorland's Medical Dictionary Category: Health and Medicine > Medical Dictionary Date & country: 31/12/2010, USA Words: 39128

immune complex disease
local or systemic disease caused by the formation of circulating antibody-antigen immune complexes and their deposition in tissue, due to activation of complement and to recruitment and activation of leukocytes in type III hypersensitivity reactions.

immune globulin
immunoglobulin. a concentrated preparation containing mostly gamma globulins, predominantly of the IgG class of immunoglobulins, taken from a large pool of human donors and used for passive immunization against measles, hepatitis A, and varicella and for treatment of hypogammaglobulinemia or agammaglobulinemia in immuno...

immune globulin intravenous (human)
a preparation of immune globulin suitable for intravenous administration; used in the treatment of primary immunodeficiency disorders and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and as an adjunct in the treatment of Kawasaki disease and the prevention of infections associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, bone marrow transplantatio...

immune human serum globulin
immune globulin (def. 2).

immune paralysis
immunologic paralysis immunologic unresponsiveness induced by administration of large doses of antigen; now called immunologic tolerance.

immune protein
immunoglobulin.

immune reaction
immune response.

immune response
the reaction to and interaction with substances interpreted by the body as not-self, the result being humoral and cellular immunity. The immune response depends on a functioning thymus and the conversion of stem cells to B and T lymphocytes. These lymphocytes contribute to antibody production, cellular immunity, and immunologic memor...

immune response genes
genes of the major histocompatibility complex that govern the immune response to individual immunogens.

immune serum
antiserum.

immune serum globulin
immune g. (def. 2).

immune suppressor genes
genes governing the ability of suppressor T cells to respond to certain antigens.

immune system
a complex system of cellular and molecular components whose primary function is distinguishing self from nonself and defense against foreign organisms or substances; see also immune response. The primary cellular components are lymphocytes and macrophages, and the primary molecular components are antibodies and lymphokines. Granulocy...

immune-mediated urticaria
acute urticaria that is an immune response to antigenic stimulation.

immunity
(ĭ-mu´nĭ-te) the condition of being immune; the protection against infectious disease conferred either by the immune response generated by immunization or previous infection or by other nonimmunologic factors. It encompasses the capacity to distinguish foreign material from self, and to neutralize, eliminate, ...

immunization
(im″u-nĭ-za´shәn) the process of making a person immune, or of becoming immune. Called also inoculation and vaccination. active immunization stimulation with a specific antigen to cause antibodies to be formed in the body. The antigen may be in one of four forms: (1) dead...

immunization therapy
treatment with antiserum and with actively antigenic substances, e.g., vaccines.

immunize
(im´u-nīz) to render immune.

immunoablative
(im″u-no-ab´lә-tiv) immunosuppressant with removal and destruction of a cell population, such as in the ablative step preceding bone marrow transplantation.

immunoadjuvant
(im″u-no-aj´ә-vәnt) a nonspecific stimulator of the immune response, such as BCG vaccine.

immunoadsorbent
(im″u-no-ad-sor´bәnt) a preparation of antigen attached to a solid support or antigen in an insoluble form, which adsorbs homologous antibodies from a mixture of immunoglobulins.

immunoassay
(im″u-no-as´a) any of several methods for the quantitative determination of chemical substances, such as hormones, drugs, and specific proteins, that utilize the highly specific binding between an antigen or hapten and homologous antibodies, including radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, and fluoroimmunoass...

immunobiological
(im″u-no-bi″o-loj´ĭ-kәl) an antigenic or antibody-containing preparation derived from a pool of human or animal donors, including vaccines, toxoids, immune globulins, and antitoxins; used for immunization and immune therapy.

immunobiology
(im″u-no-bi-ol´ә-je) that branch of biology dealing with immunologic effects on such phenomena as infectious disease, growth and development, recognition phenomena, hypersensitivity, heredity, aging, cancer, and transplantation.

immunoblast
(im´u-no-blast″) a mitotically active B or T lymphocyte.

immunoblastic
(im″u-no-blas´tik) pertaining to or involving immunoblasts.

immunoblastic lymphadenopathy
angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy.

immunoblastic sarcoma of B cells
large cell, immunoblastic lymphoma composed predominantly of B cells.

immunoblastic sarcoma of T cells
large cell, immunoblastic lymphoma made up predominantly of T cells.

immunoblot
(im´u-no-blot″) to transfer proteins onto a membrane or other immobilizing matrix, analyzing or identifying them via antigen-antibody specific reactions, or the blot resulting from this process, as in a Western blot or dot blot. The term is sometimes used as a synonym of Western blot.

immunochemistry
(im″u-no-kem´is-tre) the study of the chemical basis of immunological phenomena. the application of antibodies as chemical reagents.

immunochemotherapy
(im″u-no-ke″mo-ther´ә-pe) a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

immunocompetence
(im″u-no-kom´pә-tәns) the capacity to develop an immune response following exposure to antigen. Called also immunoresponsiveness. adj., immunocom´petent., adj.

immunocomplex
(im″u-no-kom´plәks) antigen-antibody complex.

immunocompromised
(im″u-no-kom´prә-mīzd) having the immune response lessened, such as by administration of immunosuppressive drugs, by irradiation, by malnutrition, or by certain disease processes such as the viral infection that produces the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

immunoconglutinin
(im″u-no-kәn-gloo´tĭ-nin) an autoantibody, usually of the immunoglobulin M class, that is specific for activated C3 and C4 components of complement. It is found in low titer in most normal sera and in increased levels in certain infectious diseases, in autoimmune disease, and after immunization with many anti...

immunocyte
(im´u-no-sīt″) any cell of the lymphoid series that can react with antigen to produce antibody or to participate in cell-mediated immunity or delayed hypersensitivity reactions; called also immunologically competent cell.

immunocytoadherence
(im″u-no-si″to-ad-hēr´әns) the formation of rosettes by the binding of red blood cells bearing a homologous antigen to lymphocytes bearing surface immunoglobulin (B lymphocytes); used to identify B lymphocytes.

immunodeficiency
(im″u-no-dә-fish´әn-se) a deficiency of immune response or a disorder in which the immune response is deficient; classified as antibody (B cell), cellular (T cell), or combined deficiency disorders. Antibody immunodeficiencies are marked by hypo- or dysgammaglobulinemia, recurrent bacterial otitis medi...

immunodermatology
(im″u-no-dur″mә-tol´ә-je) the study of immunologic phenomena as they affect skin disorders and their treatment or prophylaxis.

immunodiffusion
(im″u-no-dĭ-fu´zhәn) the diffusion of antigen and antibody from separate reservoirs to form decreasing concentration gradients in hydrophilic gels.

immunoelectrophoresis
(im″u-no-e-lek″tro-fә-re´sis) a method of distinguishing proteins and other materials on the basis of their electrophoretic mobility and antigenic specificities. rocket immunoelectrophoresis electrophoresis in which antigen migrates from a well through agar gel containin...

immunofiltration
(im″u-no-fil-tra´shәn) the extraction of antigen or antibody in pure form using an immunoadsorbent.

immunofluorescence
(im″u-no-fldbobr-res´әns) a method of determining the location of antigen (or antibody) in a tissue section or smear using a specific antibody (or antigen) labeled with a fluorochrome.

immunogen
(im´u-no-jәn) any substance capable of eliciting an immune response.

immunogenetic
(im″u-no-jә-net´ik) pertaining to immunology and genetics.

immunogenetics
(im″u-no-jә-net´iks) the study of the genetics of the immune response, such as the study of genes that control immune responses, or the association of HLA antigens with disease susceptibility, or the generation of antibody diversity.

immunogenic
(im″u-no-jen´ik) producing immunity; evoking an immune response.

immunogenicity
(im″u-no-jә-nis´ĭ-te) the ability of a substance to provoke an immune response or the degree to which it provokes a response. adj., immunogen´ic., adj.

immunoglobulin
(Ig) (im″u-no-glob´u-lin) a protein of animal origin with known antibody activity; immunoglobulins are major participants in humoral immunity are synthesized by lymphocytes and plasma cells, and are found in the serum and other body fluids and tissues, including the urine, spinal fluid, lymph nodes, and s...

immunoglobulin genes
the genes coding for immunoglobulin heavy and light chains, which are organized in three loci coding for κ light chains, λ light chains, and heavy chains.

immunoglobulin-binding factor
(IBF) a lymphokine having the ability to bind immunoglobulin G complexed with antigen and prevent activation of complement.

immunohistochemical
(im″u-no-his″to-kem´ĭ-kәl) denoting the application of antigen-antibody interactions to histochemical techniques, as in the use of immunofluorescence.

immunoincompetent
(im″u-no-in-kom´pә-tent) immunocompromised.

immunologic memory
the capacity of the immune system to respond more rapidly and strongly to a subsequent antigenic challenge than to the first exposure. See also memory cells and immune response.

immunologically competent cell
immunocyte.

immunologist
(im″u-nol´ә-jist) a specialist in immunology.

immunology
(im″u-nol´ә-je) the branch of biomedical science encompassing the study of the structure and function of the immune system (basic immunology); immunization, organ transplantation, blood banking, and immunopathology (clinical immunology); laboratory testing of cellular and humoral immune function (laboratory immuno...

immunomodulation
(im″u-no-mod″u-la´shәn) adjustment of the immune response to a desired level, as in immunopotentiation, immunosuppression, or induction of immunologic tolerance.

immunomodulator
(im″u-no-mod´u-la″tәr) an agent that causes immunomodulation.

immunopathogenesis
(im″u-no-path″o-jen´ә-sis) the process of development of a disease in which an immune response or its products are involved.

immunopathology
(im″u-no-pә-thol´ә-je) that branch of biomedical science concerned with immune responses to disease, with immunodeficiency diseases, and with diseases caused by immune mechanisms. the structural and functional manifestations associated with immune responses to disease or with diseases caused by...

immunophysiology
(im″u-no-fiz″e-ol´ә-je) the physiology of immunological processes.

immunopotency
(im″u-no-po´tәn-se) the immunogenic capacity of an individual antigenic determinant on an antigen molecule to initiate antibody synthesis.

immunopotentiation
(im″u-no-po-ten″she-a´shәn) accentuation of the response to an immunogen by administration of another substance.

immunoprecipitation
(im″u-no-pre-sip″ĭ-ta´shәn) precipitation resulting from interaction of specific antibody and antigen.

immunoproliferative
(im″u-no-pro-lif´әr-ә-tiv) characterized by the proliferation of the lymphoid cells producing immunoglobulins, as in the gammopathies.

immunoradiometry
(im″u-no-ra″de-om´ә-tre) the use of radiolabeled antibody (in the place of radiolabeled antigen) in radioimmunoassay techniques. adj., immunoradiomet´ric., adj.

immunoreactant
(im″u-no-re-ak´tәnt) a substance that participates in an immune response; an antigen or antibody.

immunoregulation
(im″u-no-reg″u-la´shәn) the control of specific immune responses and interactions between B and T lymphocytes and macrophages.

immunoregulator
(im″u-no-reg´u-la″tәr) a substance such as interferon that participates in immunoregulation.

immunoresponsiveness
(im″u-no-re-spon´siv-nis) immunocompetence.

immunoscintigraphy
(im″u-no-sin-tig´rә-fe) scintigraphic imaging of a lesion using radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies or antibody fragments specific for antigen that is associated with the lesion.

immunosecretory disorders
a group of disorders characterized by monoclonal proliferation of immunoglobulin-producing cells that resemble lymphocytes or plasma cells; the group includes primary amyloidosis, cryoglobulinemia, heavy chain disease, multiple myeloma, and plasma cell dyscrasias.

immunosorbent
(im″u-no-sor´bәnt) immunoadsorbent.

immunostimulant
(im″u-no-stim´u-lәnt) an agent capable of stimulating an immune response, usually used to refer to agents other than adjuvants.

immunostimulation
(im″u-no-stim″u-la´shәn) stimulation of an immune response, such as by BCG vaccine.

immunosuppressant
(im″u-no-sә-pres´әnt) an agent capable of suppressing immune responses.

immunosuppression
(im″u-no-sә-presh´әn) inhibition of the immune response to unfamiliar antigens that may be present; used in transplantation procedures to prevent rejection of the transplant or graft, and in autoimmune disease, allergy, multiple myeloma, and other conditions. adj., immunosuppres´sive., adj.

immunosuppressive therapy
therapeutic immunosuppression.

immunosurveillance
(im″u-no-sәr-va´lәns) the monitoring function of the immune system by which it recognizes and reacts against aberrant cells arising within the body.

immunotransfusion
(im″u-no-trans-fu´zhәn) transfusion of blood from a donor previously rendered immune to the disease affecting the patient.

impacted
(im-pak´tәd) being wedged in firmly. In obstetrics, denoting twins so situated during delivery that the pressure of one against the other prevents complete engagement of either.

impacted fracture
fracture in which one fragment is firmly driven into the other.

impacted tooth
one so placed in the jaw that it is unable to erupt or go into its normal position in occlusion. See also dental impaction.

impacted twins
twins so situated during delivery that pressure of one against the other produces simultaneous engagement of both.

impaction
(im-pak´shәn) the condition of being wedged in firmly.

impairment
(im-par´mәnt) a decrease in strength or value. any abnormality of, partial or complete loss of, or loss of the function of, a body part, organ, or system; this may be due directly or secondarily to pathology or injury and may be either temporary or permanent. Examples include muscle weakness, i...

impalpable
(im-pal´pә-bәl) not detectable by touch.

impar
(im´pahr) not even; unequal; unpaired.

impatent
(im-pa´tәnt) closed; not patent.

impedance
(im-pēd´әns) obstruction or opposition to passage or flow, as of an electric current or other form of energy. the resistance in alternating current circuits, represented by the letter Z in mathematical formulas. Medical equipment is often rated according to impedance to allow for optimum perform...

imperforate
(im-pur´fә-rāt) not open; abnormally closed.

impermeable
(im-pur´me-ә-bәl) not permitting passage, as for fluid.

impetigo
(im″pә-ti´go) a contagious skin disorder, usually caused by infection of a lesion with Staphylococcus aureus. It usually occurs in children, especially infants because of their low resistance, and is spread by direct contact with the moist discharges of the lesions. Transmission is by direct contact, by fomi...

impingement
(im-pinj´mәnt) advancement of one thing out of its expected place to where it may collide with something else; see impingement syndrome.

impingement syndrome
the progressive pathologic changes resulting from mechanical impingement by the acromion, coracoacromial ligament, coracoid process, or acromioclavicular joint against the rotator cuff; changes may include reversible edema and hemorrhage, fibrosis, tendinitis, pain, bone spur formation, and tendon rupture.

implant
(im´plant) (im-plant´) to insert or graft material, such as tissue or radioactive material, into intact tissues or a body cavity; see also transplant. (im´plant) any material inserted or grafted into the body. dental implant a prosthetic tooth with an anchoring structu...

implant denture
an artificial denture or single tooth retained and stabilized by a framework or post implanted in the bone.

implantable pacemaker
implanted pacemaker an artificial pacemaker implanted within the body.