Autoimmune process
Autoimmune process: A process in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys body tissue that it mistakes for foreign matter. See also: Autoimmune disease; and Autoimmunity.
Read Also:
- Autoimmune thyroid disease
Graves’ disease; Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Autoimmunity
Autoimmunity: A misdirected immune response that occurs when the immune system goes awry and attacks the body itself. Autoimmunity is present to some extent in everyone and is usually harmless. However, autoimmunity can cause a broad range of human illnesses, known collectively as autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases occur when there is progression from benign autoimmunity […]
- Autoinnoculation
Autoinnoculation: Inoculation of a microorganism obtained by contact with a lesion on one’s own body, producing a secondary infection. This can happen, for example, with a fresh smallpox vaccination if the person who has been vaccinated touches it and transfers the virus to a scrape on their body.
- Autologous
Autologous: In blood transfusion and transplantation, a situation in which the donor and recipient are the same person. Patients scheduled for non-emergency surgery may be autologous donors by donating blood for themselves that will be stored until the surgery. An autologous graft is a graft (such as a graft of skin) that is provided for […]
- Autologous blood donation
Autologous blood donation: Giving blood to yourself. For example, patients scheduled for non-emergency surgery may be eligible to donate blood for themselves that will be stored until the surgical procedure. During the period of “storage” the body is making more blood. This donation is suggested in anticipation of a surgical procedure where significant blood loss […]