anergy
noun
an·er·gy ˈa-(ˌ)nər-jē 
: a condition in which the body fails to react to an antigen
Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary a- entry 2 + -ergy (as in allergy)
First Known Use
1890, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
anergy
noun
an·er·gy ˈan-(ˌ)ər-jē
plural anergies
: a condition in which the body's immune system fails to react to an antigen : immunological hyporesponsiveness
Specific anergy is lack of reactivity to an individual antigen, while generalized (nonspecific) anergy is the inability to react to any antigen.
Harriet Kitzman et al., The Journal of the American Medical Association
Harriet Kitzman et al., The Journal of the American Medical AssociationBy deliberately throwing cells into anergy, researchers also hope to control allergies and certain autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, in which white blood cells attack the body's connective tissue in the joints. Gina Kolata, The New York Times
Gina Kolata, The New York Times