Terminology

Before we go too far..........What Is......?

 

Allo-:

Indicating a difference from or opposition to the normal

 

Antibody:  

A complex glycoprotein produced by B lymphocytes in response to the presence of an antigen
Antibodies are also known as immunoglobulins
What do they do?
Provide protection against most common infections
May combine with specific antigens to destroy or control the antigen--they do this in several different ways:
Directly lyse (destroy) the antigen
Neutralize toxins released by bacteria
Opsonize  (facilitate phagocytosis) the antigen
Form a complex to stimulate phagocytosis, promote antigen clumping or prevent the antigen from adhering to host cells
Autoantibody--produced by the B cells in response to an altered "self" antigen on one type of its own body's cells
It attacks and destroys these cells---cells of its own body
Autoantibodies are the basis for autoimmune diseases
Several theories have been presented as to why these autoantibodies are formed; the most common being:
A virus or direct trauma damages the antigen, changing its appearance.  As a result, B cells see it as "not self" or foreign and produce antibodies to destroy it
Almost all antibodies except for the natural antibodies (antibodies to the different blood types) are created by B cells linking with a foreign antigen on the surface of an invading organism    

 

Antigen:  

A protein or oligosaccharide marker on the surface of cells that identifies the cell as either  "self" or "non-self"   
Antigens on the body's own cells are called autoantigens   (self)
Antigens on all other cells are call foreign antigen (non-self)
Identify the type of cell (e.g. skin, kidney) 
Stimulate the production of antibodies
Stimulate cytotoxic response by granulocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes
Response by the T and B cells to an antigen is part of the specific immune response
Autoantigen--a substance that stimulates the production of antibodies in the individual from whom the antigen is  derived

 

Autosome (-al): 

Any of the chromosomes--other than the sex  (X and Y) chromosomes

 

Blood Groups:

There are a number of human blood group systems
Each system is determined by a series of 2 or more genes that are allelic or closely linked on a single autosomal chromosome
The ABO system was discovered in 1901 by Landsteiner and is one of the most common
It identifies the genetically determined antigens located on the surface of the RBCs
Individuals are divided into four ABO blood groups---  A, B, AB, and O---corresponding to the antigen located on the surface of their RBC

The person with an A antigen has blood type A;  the person with a B antigen has blood type B;  the person with both A and B antigens is blood type AB;  and finally, the person with neither an A nor a B antigen is blood type O

In addition, the individual has, in their serum (plasma), the corresponding antibody to the antigen they lack 
Blood grouping is important because of the interaction between the antigens on the RBC's membrane and the antibodies in the serum
Other reasons for identifying an individual's blood group:
Medical-legal purposes
Genetic and anthropological studies
Determining the probability of fatherhood

 

Coombs' Test:

Laboratory measurement of the antibody coating an RBC
Direct Coombs'
Measures amount of maternal antibody coating an infant's RBC
Indirect Coombs'
Measures effect of infant's serum on other unrelated adult RBCs
If infant's serum has maternal antibodies present the test will be positive--agglutination of cells occurs
If infant's serum has no maternal antibodies present, the test will be negative--there will be no agglutination of cells
If an ABO incompatibility exists:
Direct Coombs' will be negative or weakly positive
Indirect Coombs' will be positive
If an Rh incompatibility exists:
Direct Coombs' will be positive
Indirect Coombs' will be negative

Colloid:

Glue-like substance--such as a protein or starch--whose molecules or groups of molecules remain uniformly distributed and fail to form a true solution when dispersed in a solvent

Commonly used as an intravascular volume expander

Hemolysis:

The destruction of RBCs allowing hemoglobin to diffuse out of the cell into the plasma

The RBCs swell, become globular shaped and rupture or  "explode"

May result from:

Hypotonic saline solutions  or Distilled water IV

Bacterial toxins  (e.g., streptococci or staphylococci infections)

ABO/Rh incompatibilities

Severe burns

Snake venoms

 

Hematopoiesis:

The production and development of blood cells

 

Icterus: 

Bile-colored pigmentation of the tissues, mucous membranes and secretions
icterus gravis neonatorum:  hemolytic jaundice of the newborn usually due to Rh isoimmunization
icterus hemolytic:  rare chronic form of icterus, frequently congenital, accompanied by periods of RBC  hemolysis

 

Oncotic :

Concerning, caused or marked by swelling

O. Pressure, colloidal

Total influence of protein on the osmotic activity of plasma

Remember this has to do with osmosis and the movement of a solvent (usually H2O) across a semipermeable membrane between solution of 2 different concentrations--moving from a higher concentration to a lower concentration--in an attempt to equalize the concentrations of the 2 solutions

 

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