IgG deficiency
IgG Deficiency
IgG deficiency (pronounced as /aɪ dʒi: dɪˈfɪʃənsi/) is a health condition characterized by low levels of or lack of Immunoglobulin G (IgG), one of the most common types of antibodies in the human body.
Etymology
The term "IgG deficiency" is derived from the term "Immunoglobulin G deficiency". "Immunoglobulin" is a term that originated from the Latin words "immunis" meaning exempt and "globus" meaning sphere, referring to the protein's role in the immune system. The "G" stands for "gamma", the class of immunoglobulin, and "deficiency" comes from the Latin "deficientia" meaning lacking.
Definition
IgG deficiency is a type of primary immunodeficiency, a group of disorders arising from a defect in the immune system, which leads to infections that can be very severe or unusually frequent. It is defined by the lack or low levels of IgG antibodies, which play a crucial role in the body's immune response by identifying and neutralizing pathogens such as bacteria and viruses.
Symptoms
Symptoms of IgG deficiency can vary greatly from one individual to another. They may include frequent infections, such as sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Other symptoms may include chronic diarrhea, anemia, and fatigue.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of IgG deficiency typically involves blood tests to measure the levels of immunoglobulins in the blood. Other diagnostic tests may include immunoelectrophoresis, protein electrophoresis, and specific antibody tests.
Treatment
Treatment for IgG deficiency may involve immunoglobulin therapy, which involves the administration of donated IgG antibodies to boost the immune system. Other treatments may include antibiotics to treat or prevent infections.
Related Terms
- Immunoglobulin
- Antibody
- Primary immunodeficiency
- Immunoglobulin therapy
- Immunoelectrophoresis
- Protein electrophoresis
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on IgG deficiency
- Wikipedia's article - IgG deficiency
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski