What it means
There are five classes. IgG is the most common and crosses the placenta to protect the baby; IgA protects mucous membranes and is in breast milk; IgM is the first made in a new infection; IgE takes part in allergies; IgD helps start B cell responses. Immune globulin can also be given as a drug, from donated blood, to give quick, short-term protection, as with hepatitis B immune globulin.
At a glance
| Spanish | inmunoglobulina |
|---|---|
| Also written | immunoglobulins |
Related terms
vaccine
A product that trains the immune system to protect the body against a specific disease.
immune response
The way the body recognizes and defends itself against germs and other substances it sees as foreign.
hepatitis B
A liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus.
lymphocyte
A type of white blood cell that targets specific germs and abnormal cells, including T cells, B cells and natural killer cells.