Heterophile antibody
Heterophile Antibody
Heterophile antibodies (pronunciation: het·ero·phile an·ti·bod·ies) are a type of antibody that are non-specific and can react with antigens from different species. They are often produced in response to certain infections, most notably Infectious Mononucleosis, which is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus.
Etymology
The term "heterophile" is derived from the Greek words "heteros" meaning different and "philos" meaning loving. Thus, heterophile antibodies are those that "love" different antigens, indicating their non-specific nature.
Related Terms
- Antigen: A substance that induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies.
- Antibody: A blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen.
- Infectious Mononucleosis: A type of infection, often caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, that results in symptoms such as fatigue, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands.
- Epstein-Barr virus: A virus in the herpes family that is best known as the cause of infectious mononucleosis.
Clinical Significance
Heterophile antibodies are often used in diagnostic testing for infectious mononucleosis. The Monospot test, a form of heterophile antibody test, is commonly used to detect these antibodies in a patient's blood. However, it's important to note that not all patients with infectious mononucleosis will produce heterophile antibodies, and not all heterophile antibodies are indicative of infectious mononucleosis.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Heterophile antibody
- Wikipedia's article - Heterophile antibody
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