|
| | |
Immunoglobulin E (IgE)
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) A type of antibody, formed to protect the body from infection, which attaches to mast cells in the respiratory and intestinal tracts and may cause allergic rhinitis, asthma, or eczema.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Antibody
An infection-fighting protein molecule in blood or secretory fluids that tags, neutralizes, and helps destroy pathogenic microorganisms (eg, bacteria, viruses) or toxins. Antibodies, known generally as immunoglobulins, are made and secreted by B-lymphocytes in response to stimulation by antigens. Each specific antibody binds only to the specific antigen that stimulated its production.
Infection
Anything that invades the body and reproduces. Infections can be bacteria, protozoa, fungi, or viruses. Bacteria and fungi are one celled creatures that cause many infections including strep throat, bladder infections, and some lung infections. Fungi cause “athlete’s foot” and thrush, an infection in the mouth. Protozoa are small organisms with many cells that can cause infections in the guts or in the lungs. Most healthy people do not get protozoal infections, but people with suppressed immune systems can. Viruses are not really organisms; they are tiny particles that can live only inside another cell. They reproduce by taking over a cell and causing that cell to make more virus particles, rather than doing what the cell is supposed to do. Viruses cause most colds and flu cases.
Rhinitis
An inflammation of the mucous membrane that lines the nose, often due to allergy to pollen, dust or other airborne substances, which causes sneezing, itching, a runny nose and nasal congestion.
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease characterized by recurrent breathing problems. People with asthma have acute episodes or when the air passages in their lungs get narrower, and breathing becomes more difficult. Sometimes episodes of asthma are triggered by allergens, although infection, exercise, cold air and other factors are also important triggers.
Eczema
A disorder of the skin like psoriasis and also considered to be related to malfunctions of the immune system. Symptoms include red, itchy skin and sores that ooze and crust over. One out of ten children develops eczema, but more than half of them lose it by the time they reach their teens.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Immune
Resistant to a particular disease.
Immune adherence
The adherence of particulate antigen coated with C3b to tissue having cells with C3b receptors.
Immune complex
Antigen bound to antibody.
Immune modulators
Substances that control the expression of the immune response.
Immune response (Ir) gene
A gene controlling an immune response to a particular antigen; most genes of this type are in the MHC (major histocompatibility complex), and the term is rarely used to describe other types of Ir genes outside the MHC.
Immune System
The body's natural defense system which produces antibodies to fight against foreign substances such as bacteria, viruses, toxins, and cancers.
Immunity
When a body's immune system helps fend off disease.
Immunization
Natural immunity provided by antibodies or induced immunity via inoculations.
Immuno globulin E
Immuno globulin E is the antibody produced in excess in allergic patients. IgE can be measured in a blood sample to determine if a person is allergic. Allergic people usually have high levels of IgE.
Immuno-Augmentative Clinic
The Immuno-Augmentative Clinic is a hospital in Freeport, Freeport, Bahamas.
Immunoassay
Detection and assay of substances by serological (immunological) methods; in most applications the substance in question serves as antigen, both in antibody production and in measurement of antibody by the test substance.
Immunofluorescence
Technique allowing the visualisation of a specific protein in cells or tissue sections (prepared from a biopsy) by binding a specific antibody conjugated to a fluorescent substrate.
Immunogen
A substance capable of inducing an immune response (as well as reacting with the products of an immune response). Compare with antigen.
Immunoglobulin
A serum protein involved in immunity. An antibody.
Immunoglobulin (Ig)
A general term for all antibody molecules. Each Ig unit is made up of two heavy chains and two light chains and has two antigen- binding sites.
Immunoglobulins
Antibodies or proteins found in blood and tissue fluids produced by cells of the immune system to bind to substances in the body that are recognized as foreign antigens. Immunoglobulins sometimes bind to antigens that are not necessarily a threat to health and provoke an allergic reaction.
Immunohistochemical staining
A laboratory process of detecting an organism in tissues with antibodies. These antibodies are labeled with a compound that is seen as a colored deposit when viewed microscopically. In general, mesotheliomas require immunohistochemical confirmation before legal measures are initiated.
Immunology
The study of the body's natural defense system.
Immunosuppresive medications
Medications that suppress the body's immune system, used to minimize rejection of transplanted organs.
Immunosuppression
The artificial suppression of the immune response, usually through drugs, so that the body will not reject a transplanted organ or tissue. Drugs commonly used to suppress the immune system after transplant include prednisone, azathioprine (Imuran), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), and cyclosporine (Neoral).
Immunotherapy
Stimulating the body's natural defense system to attack and destroy cancers.
Immutable
Long-lasting and unchangeable.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Ileal
Related to the ileum, the lowest end of the small intestine.
Ileitis
See Crohn's Disease.
Ileocolitis
Irritation of the lower part of the small intestine (ileum) and colon.
Ileostomy
An operation that makes it possible for stool to leave the body after the colon and rectum are removed in which an opening is made in the abdomen and the bottom of the small intestine (ileum) attaches to it.
Ileum
The lower end of the small intestine.
Immunoglobulin E (IgE)
Immunoglobulins
Antibodies or proteins found in blood and tissue fluids produced by cells of the immune system to bind to substances in the body that are recognized as foreign antigens. Immunoglobulins sometimes bind to antigens that are not necessarily a threat to health and provoke an allergic reaction.
Immunosuppresive medications
Medications that suppress the body's immune system, used to minimize rejection of transplanted organs.
Impedance plethysmography
A test to evaluate blood flow through the leg.
In vitro
Procedure done in test tube.
In vivo
Procedure that uses trace amounts of radiopharmaceutical that are given directly to a patient; majority of nuclear medicine procedures are in vivo.
We thank you for using the Health Dictionary to search for Immunoglobulin E (IgE). If you have a better definition for Immunoglobulin E (IgE) than the one presented here, please let us know by making use of the suggest a term option. This definition of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) may be disputed by other professionals. Our attempt is to provide easy definitions on Immunoglobulin E (IgE) and any other medical topic for the public at large.This dictionary contains 25007 terms. |
|
|
