reagin
9.9
A blood protein the body makes after contact with allergens that causes allergy symptoms
- noun
- /ˈriːəɡɪn/
- Archaic
:
reagina
- High levels of reagin can indicate an allergic reaction to certain foods or pollens.
Examples
-
Doctors often measure the level of reagin in the blood to diagnose allergies.
-
The presence of reagin in the patient's tests suggested a response to environmental allergens.
-
The rapid plasma reagin test was nonreactive, and the vitamin B12 level was elevated at 1,143 pg/ml (normal: 210 to 705).
Academic text (2006)
Synonyms
1
5.3
Proteins that the body makes to help fight infections
is the specific antibody made after allergen exposure rather than the general antibody class
1
6.5
A body protein that helps cause allergic reactions and fights parasites
is the specific antibody made after allergen exposure that causes histamine release
Surface Forms
Etymology
Reagin was formed from the root reag- meaning 'to react' and the protein ending -in, the same ending you see in insulin. So reagin can be remembered as a 'reactive protein' that triggers allergic reactions.