Pegaptanib
Pegaptanib
Pegaptanib (pronounced: peh-gap-tuh-nib) is a medication used in the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is an aptamer, which is a type of oligonucleotide that binds to a specific target molecule, in this case, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
Etymology
The name "Pegaptanib" is derived from the combination of "PEG", which stands for polyethylene glycol, a substance used to increase the medication's half-life in the body, and "aptanib", which is a combination of "aptamer" and "inhibitor", indicating its function.
Usage
Pegaptanib is used to treat neovascular (wet) AMD, a condition that causes blurred vision or a blind spot in the visual field. It works by inhibiting VEGF, a protein that promotes the growth of new blood vessels. By blocking VEGF, pegaptanib can slow the progression of AMD and help to maintain vision.
Related Terms
- Aptamer: A type of oligonucleotide that binds to a specific target molecule.
- Oligonucleotide: A short DNA or RNA molecule.
- Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF): A protein that promotes the growth of new blood vessels.
- Neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD): A condition that causes blurred vision or a blind spot in the visual field.
- Polyethylene glycol (PEG): A substance used to increase the medication's half-life in the body.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pegaptanib
- Wikipedia's article - Pegaptanib
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