Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «I»:
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Imitrex
Imitrex: Brand name for sumatriptan, a triptan drug for the treatment of migraine....
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Immune
Immune: Protected against infection. The Latin immunis means
free, exempt. ...
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Immune complex
Immune complex: A cluster of interlocking antigens and antibodies forming a large network of molecules. Also called an antigen-antibody complex....
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Immune response
Immune response: Any reaction by the immune system.
...
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Immune system
Immune system: A complex system that is responsible
for distinguishing us from everything foreign to us, and for protecting us against infections and foreign substances. The immune system works to seek and kill invaders.
If a person is born with a severely defective immune system, death from infec...
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Immune thrombocytopenic purpura
Immune thrombocytopenic purpura: A blood disorder characterized by the destruction of blood platelets due to the presence of antiplatelet autoantibodies. (Autoantibodies are antibodies directed against the patient's own cells, in this disorder, the patient's own platelets.) Thrombocytopenia refers t...
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Immune tolerance
Immune tolerance: A state of unresponsiveness to a specific antigen or group of antigens to which a person is normally responsive. Immune tolerance is achieved under conditions that suppress the immune reaction and is not just the absence of a immune response.
Immune tolerance can result from a numb...
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Immunity
Immunity: The condition of being immune. Immunity can be innate
(for example, humans are innately immune to canine distemper) or conferred by a previous
infection or immunization....
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Immunity, acquired
Immunity, acquired: See: Acquired immunity....
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Immunity, active
Immunity, active: The production of antibodies against a specific agent by the immune system. Active immunity can be acquired in two ways, by contracting an infectious disease such as chickenpox or by receiving a vaccination such as against chickenpox. Active immunity is usually permanent. The indiv...
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Immunity, innate
Immunity, innate: See: Innate immunity....
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Immunity, natural
Immunity, natural: See: Innate immunity....
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Immunity, passive
Immunity, passive: See: Passive immunity....
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Immunization
Immunization: Vaccination. Immunizations work by
stimulating
the immune system, the natural disease-fighting system of the body.
The healthy immune
system is able to recognize invading bacteria and viruses and produce
substances
(antibodies) to destroy or disable them. Immunizations prepare the
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Immunization, anthrax
Immunization, anthrax: A series of six shots over six
months and booster shots annually, the anthrax vaccine now in use in the USA was first
developed in the 1950s and approved by the Food and Drug Administration for general use in
1970. It is produced by the Michigan Biologic Products Institute of ...
