Autoagglutinin

/ˌɔːtoʊəˈɡluːtɪnɪn/ noun

Definition

An antibody produced by the body that causes its own cells to clump together, indicating an autoimmune problem.

Etymology

From 'auto-' (self), 'agglutinin' (a substance that causes clumping), and the noun suffix '-in'. This immunology term developed as antibodies were studied in the 20th century.

Kelly Says

Finding autoagglutinins in a patient's blood is like discovering the body has turned against itself—the immune system is making weapons that attack its own red blood cells.

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