noun
- An antibody produced by the immune system that attacks the body's own cells or tissues.
Usage: Medical/scientific term; Usually used in plural form (autoantibodies); Associated with autoimmune diseases
Examples
- Patients with lupus often have high levels of autoantibodies in their blood.
- The presence of autoantibodies can indicate an underlying autoimmune disorder.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by the production of autoantibodies against joint tissues.
- Doctors test for autoantibodies to help diagnose conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
- Autoantibodies mistakenly target and damage the body's own healthy cells.