Medications

Implant, brainstem: See: Brainstem implant.Last Editorial Review: 6/11/2003 Brainstem implant: A type of hearing aid that bypasses the cochlea in the middle ear and the auditory nerve and is implanted in the brainstem. This type of implant helps ind...

Implant - Medical

Implant: 1. To embed; to set in firmly. In embryology, the fertilized egg implants in the uterine lining 6 or 7 days after conception ( fertilization). In medicine today, many things may be implanted. 2. That which is embedded. For example: lens im...

Impetigo - Medical

Impetigo: A bacterial skin infection caused by the staphylococcus or, more rarely,streptococcus bacteria. The first sign of impetigo is a patch of red, itchy skin. Pustules develop on this area, soon forming crusty, yellow-brown sores t...

Imperforate anus - Medical

Imperforate anus: A congenital malformation (a birth defect) in which the rectum is a blind alley (a cul-de-sac) and there is no anus. The anus is imperforate in the sense that the normal perforation we call the anus is absent. The end of the int...

Impaired glucose tolerance - Medical

Impaired glucose tolerance: A transition phase between normal glucose tolerance and diabetes, also referred to as prediabetes. In impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), the levels of blood glucose are between normal and diabetic. People with IGT do not h...

Impaction, dental - Medical

Impaction, dental: Teeth pressing together. For example, molar teeth (the large teeth in the back of the jaw) can be impacted, cause pain and require pain medication, antibiotics, and surgical removal. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...

Impact - Medical

Impact: To lodge firmly or wedge in.Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...

Immunotoxin - Medical

Immunotoxin: A hybrid molecule created by coupling an antibody or antigen with part or all of a toxin. The hybrid molecule combines the specificity of the antibody or antigen with the toxicity of the toxin. The possible targets of immunotoxins includ...

Immunotherapy, allergy - Medical

Immunotherapy, allergy: Stimulation of the immune system with gradually increasing doses of the substances to which a person is allergic. The aim is to modify or stop the allergy by reducing the strength of the IgE response. This form of treatm...

Immunotherapy - Medical

Immunotherapy: Treatment to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune (defense) system to fight infection and disease. Biological therapy is thus any form of treatment that uses the body's natural abilities that constitute the immune system to ...

Immunosuppressive agent - Medical

Immunosuppressive agent: A medication that slows or halts immune system activity. Immunosuppressive agents may be given to prevent the body from mounting an immune response after an organ transplant or for treating a disease that is caused by...

Immunosuppressive - Medical

Immunosuppressive: 1. Pertaining to immunosuppression, the suppression of the immune system. 2. An agent capable of suppressing the immune response. Last Editorial Review: 12/10/2003 Immunosuppression: Suppression of the immune system. Immunosup...

Immunosuppression - Medical

Immunosuppression: Suppression of the immune system. Immunosuppression may result from certain diseases such as AIDS or lymphoma or from certain drugs such as some of those used to treat cancer. Immunosuppression may also be deliberately induced wit...

Immunosuppressant - Medical

Immunosuppressant: An agent that can suppress or prevent the immune response. Immunosuppressants are used to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ and to treat autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn's disease. Some...

Immunology - Medical

Immunology: The study of all aspects of the immune system including its structure and function, disorders of the immune system, blood banking, immunization and organ transplantation. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...

Immunologist - Medical

Immunologist: A person who is knowledgeable about immunology. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...

Immunoglobulin M - Medical

Immunoglobulin M: Abbreviated IgM. A major class of immunoglobulins. IgM includes the antibodies that are usually produced first in an immune response and are later replaced by other types of antibodies. Last Editorial Review: 8/4/2002 12:21:47 PM...

Immunoglobulin G - Medical

Immunoglobulin G: Abbreviated IgG. A major class of immunoglobulins found in the blood, including many of the most common antibodies circulating in the blood. Also known as gamma globulin. Last Editorial Review: 8/4/2002...

Immunoglobulin E - Medical

Immunoglobulin E: Abbreviated IgE. A class of immunoglobulins that includes the antibodies elicited by an allergic substance (allergen). A person who has an allergy usually has elevated blood levels of IgE. IgE antibodies attack and engage the invadi...

Immunoglobulin D - Medical

Immunoglobulin D: Abbreviated IgD. A class of immunoglobulins found as antibodies on the surface of B cells (B lymphocytes). Almost nothing is known about the normal function of IgD.Last Editorial Review: 8/4/2002 12:22:21 PM...

Immunoglobulin A - Medical

Immunoglobulin A: A major class of immunoglobulins found in serum and external body secretions such as saliva, tears, and sweat as well as in the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and genitourinary tracts. Abbreviated IgA. Last Editorial Review: 8/4/...

Immunoglobulin - Medical

Immunoglobulin: A protein produced by plasma cells and lymphocytes and characteristic of these types of cells. Immunoglobulins play an essential role in the body's immune system. They attach to foreign substances, such as bacteria, and assist in dest...

Immunogenetics - Medical

Immunogenetics: The genetics (inheritance) of the immune response. For example, the study of the Rh, ABO and other blood groups or the HLA system important to kidney and other transplants. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...

Immunodepression - Medical

Immunodepression: See immunosuppression.Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM Immunosuppression: Suppression of the immune system. Immunosuppression may result from certain diseases such as AIDS or lymphoma or from certain drugs such as some ...

Immunodepressant - Medical

Immunodepressant: An agent that can depress or prevent the immune response. See: Immunosuppressant.Last Editorial Review: 11/1/2003 Immune response: Any reaction by the immune system. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM Immunosuppressant...

Immunodeficient - Medical

Immunodeficient: Lacking immunity and so susceptible to infection. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...

Immunodeficiency - Medical

Immunodeficiency: Inability to mount a normal immune response. Immunodeficiency can be due to a genetic disease or acquired as in AIDS due to HIV. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...

Immunocow - Medical

Immunocow: A cow that has been genetically engineered to produce human antibodies. An immunocow, when challenged with an infectious agent, can produce large volumes of human antibodies against that agent. There are also immunopigs and presumably immu...

Immunocompromised - Medical

Immunocompromised: Having an immune system that has been impaired by disease or treatment. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...

Immunocompetent - Medical

Immunocompetent: Able to develop an immune response. Able to recognize antigens and respond to them. The opposite of immunodeficient. Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2011 5:27:15 PM...