Medical Dictionary Definitions A-Z List
Medical Dictionary Definitions A - Z - «I»:
-
Immunosuppressive
Immunosuppressive: 1. Pertaining to immunosuppression, the suppression of the immune system.
2. An agent capable of suppressing the immune response....
-
Immunosuppressive agent
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 an overactive immune system....
-
Immunotherapy
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 fight infection and disease or to protect the body...
-
Immunotherapy, allergy
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 treatment is
very effective for allergies to pollen, mites...
-
Immunotoxin
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 include cancer cells and cells containing HIV.
The term ...
-
Impact
Impact: To lodge firmly or wedge in....
-
Impaction, dental
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. ...
-
Impaired glucose tolerance
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 have diabetes. Each year, only 1-5% of people whose...
-
Imperforate anus
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 intestinal tract has not made its way through the skin ...
-
Impetigo
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 that can spread to cover entire areas of the face, arms, a...
-
Implant
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 implants, breast implants, cochlear implants, defibril...
-
Implant, brainstem
Implant, brainstem: See: Brainstem implant....
-
Implant, cochlear
Implant, cochlear: See: Cochlear implant....
-
Implantable cardiac defibrillator
Implantable cardiac defibrillator: A device that is put within the body and is designed to recognize certain types of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and correct them.
Defibrillators continuously monitor the heart rhythm in order to detect overly rapid arrhythmias such as
Ventricular tachycar...
-
Implantable pacemaker
Implantable pacemaker: A device that uses electrical impulses to regulate the heart rhythm or to reproduce that rhythm. An internal pacemaker is one in which the electrodes into the heart, the electronic circuitry and the power supply are implanted (internally) within the body.
Although there are d...
