inflammatory response

Introduction

A localized protective response elicited by injury or destruction of tissues that serves to destroy, dilute, or wall off both the injurious agent & the injured tissue. Clinical signs include pain, heat, erythema, edema, & loss of function. Inflammation may be diminished or absent in immunosuppressed patients.

More general terms

• physiologic process

Additional terms

• inflammation
• systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)