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Glossary

Showing 611-620 out of 1154 Terms

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  • Immunosuppressive

    (IH-myoo-noh-suh-PREH-siv)

    Describes the ability to decrease the body's immune system responses.

  • Immunosuppressive agent

    (IH-myoo-noh-suh-PREH-siv AY-jent)

    An agent that decreases the body’s immune responses. It reduces the body’s ability to fight infections and other diseases, such as cancer. Immunosuppressive agents may be used to keep a person from rejecting a bone marrow or organ transplant. They are also used in the treatment of conditions marked by overactive immune responses, such as autoimmune diseases and allergies.

  • Immunosuppressive therapy

    (IH-myoo-noh-suh-PREH-siv THAYR-uh-pee)

    Treatment that lowers the activity of the body’s immune system. This reduces its ability to fight infections and other diseases, such as cancer. Immunosuppressive therapy may be used to keep a person from rejecting a bone marrow or organ transplant. It may also be used to treat conditions in which the immune system is overactive, such as autoimmune diseases and allergies. Some types of immunosuppressive therapy may increase a person’s risk of cancer by lowering the body’s ability to kill cancer cells.

  • Immunotherapy

    IH-myoo-noh-THAYR-uh-pee

    A type of therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection, and other diseases. Some types of immunotherapy only target certain cells of the immune system. Others affect the immune system in a general way. Types of immunotherapy include cytokines, vaccines, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), and some monoclonal antibodies.

  • Immunotoxins

    (IH-myoo-noh-TOK-sins)

    An immune substance, such as a monoclonal antibody, cytokine, or immunoglobulin, chemically linked to a toxic substance. The immune substance binds to specific proteins or receptors found on some cancer cells. This allows the linked toxic substance to enter the cancer cells and kill them without harming nearby healthy cells.

  • Impairment

    A loss of part or all of a physical or mental ability, such as the ability to see, walk, or learn.

  • Implant

    (IM-plant)

    A substance or object that is put in the body as a prosthesis, or for treatment or diagnosis.

  • Implantable port

    A venous access device that implants a system for delivery of fluids, medicines, or blood directly into a vein. The entire device is surgically implanted under the skin and can be used for an extended period of time.

  • In-network provider

    A provider network is a list of the doctors, other health care providers, and hospitals that a plan has contracted with to provide medical care to its members. These providers are called “network providers” or “in-network providers.” A provider that hasn’t contracted with the plan is called an “out-of-network provider.”

  • Incision

    (in-SIH-zhun)

    A cut made in the body to perform surgery.