Blood and Immunity: Supplementary Terms Flashcards
bilirubin
a pigment derived from the breakdown of hemoglobin. Eliminated by the liver in bile
complement
a group of plasma enzymes that interacts with antibodies
corpuscle
a small mass or body. A blood corpuscle is a blood cell
hemopoietic stem cell
a primitive bone marrow cell that gives rise to all varieties of blood cells
heparin
a substance found throughout the body that inhibits blood coagulation; an anticoagulant
plasmin
an enzyme that dissolves clots; aka fibrinolysin
thrombin
enzyme derived from prothrombin that converts fibrinogen to fibrin
agranulocytosis
a condition involving a decrease in the number of granulocytes in the blood ; granulocytopenia
erythrocytosis
increase in the number of RBC in the blood; may be normal, such as to compensate for life at high altitudes, or abnormal,such as in cases of pulmonary or cardiac disease
fanconi syndrome
congenital aplastic anemia that appears between birth and 10 years of age; may be hereditary or caused by damage before birth, as by a virus
Graft versus host reaction (GVHR)
an immunological reaction of transplanted lymphocytes against tissues of the host; a common complication of bone marrow transplantation
hairy cell leukemia
a form of leukemia in which cells have filaments, making them look “hairy”
hematoma
a localized collection of blood, usually clotted, caused by a break in a blood vessel
hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN)
disease that results from incompatibility between the blood of the mother and her fetus, usually involving Rh factor. An Rh negative mother produces antibody to an Rh positive fetus that, in later pregnancies,will destroy the red cells of an Rh- positive fetus. The problem is usually avoided by treating the mother with antibodies to remove Rh antigen; erythroblastosis fetalis
hemosiderosis
a condition involving the deposition of an iron containing pigment (hemosiderin) mainly in the liver and the spleen. The pigment comes from hemoglobin released from disintegrated RBC
idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
a clotting disorder caused by destruction of platelets that usually follow a viral illness. Causes petechiae and hemorrhages into the skin and mucous membranes
infectious mononucleosis
an acute infectious disease caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Characterized by fever, weakness, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and atypical lymphocytes (resembling monocytes).
lymphocytosis
an increase in number of circulating lymphocytes
myelodysplastic syndrome
bone marrow dysfunction resulting in anemia and deficiency of neutrophils and platelets. May develop in time into leukemia; preleukemia
myelofibrosis
condition in which bone marrow is replaced with fibrous tissue
neutropenia
a decrease in the number of neutrophils with increases susceptibility to infection. Causes include drugs, irradiation, and infection. May be a side effect of tx for malignancy.
pancytopenia
a decrease in all cells of the blood; as in aplastic anemia
polycythemia
any condition in which there is a relative increase in the percent of RBC in whole blood. May result from excessive production of RBC because of oxygen lack (high altitudes), breathing obstruction, heart failure, or certain forms of poisoning. Apparent polycythemia results from concentration of the blood, as by dehydration.
polycythemia vera
a condition in which overactive bone marrow produces too many RBC. These interfere with circulation and promote thrombosis and hemorrhage. Treated by blood removal. AKA erythrmis, Vaquez-Osler disease
septicemia
presence of microorganisms in the blood
spherocytic anemia
hereditary anemia in which RBC are round instead of disk shaped and rupture (hemolyze) excessively.
thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)
an often fatal disorder in which multiple clots form in blood vessels
von Willebrand disease
A hereditary bleeding disease caused by lack of Von Willebrand factor, a substance necessary for blood clotting
Bence Jones protein
a protein that appears in the urine of patients wit multiple myeloma
Coombs test
a test for detection of antibodies to RBC such as appear in cases of autoimmune hemolytic anemias
electrophoresis
separation of particles in a liquid by application of an electrical field, used to separate components of blood.
ELISA
Enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay. A highly sensitive immunological test used to dx HIV infection, hepatitis, and Lyme disease, among others.
monoclonal antibody
a pure antibody produced in the laboratory; used for dx and tx
pH
a scale that measures the relative acidity or alkalinity of a solution. Represents the amount of hydrogen ion in the solution
Schilling test
Test used to determine absorption of Vit B12 by measuring excretion of radioactive B12 in the urine. Used to distinguish pernicious from nutritional anemia
seroconversion
appearance of antibodies in the serum in response to a disease or an immunization
Western blot assay
a very sensitive test used to detect small amounts of antibodies in the blood
Wright stain
a commonly used blood stain
anticoagulant
an agent that prevents or delays blood coagulation
antihistamine
a drug that counteracts the effect of histamine and is used to treat allergic reactions
apheresis
a procedure in which blood is withdrawn, a portion is separated and retained, and the remainder is returned to the donor. Ex plasmapheresis (fraction retained)
autologous blood
a person’s own blood. May be donated in advance of surgery and transfused if needed.
cryoprecipitate
a sediment obtained by cooling. The fraction obtained by freezing blood plasma contains clotting factors.
desensitization
treatment of allergy by small injections of the offending allergen. This causes an increase of antibody to destroy the antigen rapidly on contact.
homologous blood
blood from animals of the same species, such as human blood used for transfusion from person to another. Blood used for transfusion must be compatible with the recipient’s blood.
immunosuppression
depression of the immune response. May be correlated with disease but also may be induced therapeutically to prevent rejection in cases of tissue transplantation
protease inhibitor
an anti HIV drug that acts by inhibiting an enzyme the virus needs to multiply
agglutination
the clumping of cells or particles in the presence of specific antibodies
