|
Below you will find a large number
of terms that are generally associated with the
symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of lupus, along
with their definitions.
A |B
|C |D |E
|F |G |H
|I |J |K
|L |M |N
|O |P |Q
|R |S |T
|U |V |W
|X |Y |Z|
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Albumin
|
Albumin is
a protein that circulates in the blood. By testing
levels of Albumin, your doctor can determine whether
your kidneys and liver are functioning properly.
|
Alternate-day
Treatment |
Treatment where the medication is
given every other day, with no medication on
alternate days. Some doctors like to give prednisone
in this fashion. |
|
Analgesic |
A drug that
relieves pain. |
| Anemia |
When your
body doesn’t have the normal amount of red blood
cells, you have anemia. It can be caused by very
many things, including lupus. |
|
Antibodies |
Specific
proteins made by your body's white blood cells. They
are for defense of the body against foreign
enemies. In certain diseases such as lupus, they
attack the patients body. |
Anticardiolipin
antibody |
A type of
antibody in the antiphospholipid antibody family. |
Anti-DNA
(also Anti-dsDNA) |
Antibodies
to DNA. Between one-half and 75 percent of the
patients with SLE have or will have this antibody.
It can indicate activity of the disease. Although
there is no "one test" that confirms lupus, the
diagnosis is nearly certain if such antibodies are
present. |
| Antigen
|
The
substance that triggers the formation of antibodies.
In lupus it may be a foreign substance or a product
of the persons own body. |
|
Anti-inflammatory |
An agent
designed to counteract or suppress inflammation.
Nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs usually refer to
"aspirin-like" drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen. |
|
Antimalarials |
Drugs, such
as Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil),
originally developed to treat Malaria that have
beneficial effects in the treatment of Lupus. |
Antinuclear
antibodies (ANA)
|
Proteins in
the blood that react with the cell nuclei. Nearly
all SLE patients have this antibody. However, it can
be found in healthy people and in most people with
autoimmune disease. |
Antiphospholipid
antibody |
Antibodies
directed against substance in cell membranes. In
the presence of a co-factor, can alter clotting and
lead to strokes, blood clots, miscarriages and low
platelet counts |
| Anti-RNP |
Antibody to
ribonucleoprotein. Seen in SLE and patients with
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. |
| Anti-Sm |
This
antibody is found only in lupus. The "Sm" stands for
Smith-- the patient whose blood was used to
identify this antibody. |
Anti-SSA
(or Anti-Ro) |
This
antibody is associated with Sjogren's Syndrome,
sun-sensitivity, neonatal lupus and congenital heart
block. |
Anti-SSB
(or Anti-La)
|
This
antibody is related to and almost always seen with
Anti-Ro. |
Arthralgia
|
Pain in a joint or
joints.
|
Arthritis
|
Inflammation of a
joint or joints.
|
Autoantibody
|
An antibody
to one’s own tissues or cells. |
Autoimmunity
|
The reactivity of
one's own immune system to one's own tissues.
|
|
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to the top |
B Cell
|
A B cell is a type of
white blood cell (a lymphocyte) that makes
antibodies. |
Butterfly rash
|
Red facial
rash over the cheeks and the bridge of the nose.
Also known as the malar rash. |
|
Back
to the top |
CBC (Complete Blood Count)
|
A blood
test that measures the amount of red blood cells,
white blood cells and platelets in the body. |
CNS
|
Central Nervous
System. |
Collagen
|
Collagen is a protein
found in cartilage, bone and skin. |
Collagen
vascular
disease (Connective tissue disease) |
An old term
that incorporates those rheumatic diseases that are
characterized by dysfunction of the immune system. |
Connective
tissue |
The “glue” that holds
the body together.
|
Complement
|
A group of
proteins found in the body that regulate
inflammation. A low or falling levels suggest
inflammation (lupus activity). |
|
Corticosteroid |
A natural
anti-inflammatory hormone made by the adrenal
glands. it is now made synthetically. A common type
used in lupus is prednisone. |
|
Cortisone |
Synthetic
or man-made corticosteroid. |
Creatinine
|
A blood
test that measures kidney function |
Creatinine
Clearance |
A 24-hour
urine collection test to determine kidney function. |
|
Cutaneous lesions |
Visible
changes in the skin: rashes, scarring and/or sores |
|
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|
Discoid lupus
|
A type of
skin disease seen in SLE; it can also exist by
itself. |
|
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|
Estrogen
|
Female hormones
produced by the ovaries. |
|
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|
Fibrositis
(Fibromyalgia)
|
A condition
that is characterized by muscular pain, weakness,
sleep disorders, fatigue, and tender points on the
body. Often mistaken for lupus although 20% of SLE
patients have fibromyalgia |
Flare
|
Symptoms of
the disease reappear or increase, an exacerbation. |
| FANA |
Another
term for ANA; stands for fluorescent ANA. |
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Glomerulonephritis
|
Inflammation of the glomerulus of the kidneys; seen
in some SLE patients. |
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|
Hemolytic
Anemia
|
Anemia
caused by the destruction of red blood cells by the
body's own antibodies. Also called Autoimmune
Hemolytic Anemia. |
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|
Immune Complex
|
An antibody and an
antigen that are bound together.
|
Immunofluorescence
|
A method
that uses a fluorescent stain to detect
autoantibodies. |
Immunosuppressive
|
A
medication such as Cytoxan or Imuran, that treats
lupus by suppressing the immune system. |
|
Inflammation |
A
characteristic reaction of tissues to injury or
disease resulting in swelling, redness, heat and
pain. |
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LE Cell
|
A specific
cell found in the blood specimens of most lupus
patients. This test served as a diagnostic test for
lupus in the past but is no longer performed since
the introduction of better blood tests. |
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|
Mixed Connective
Tissue Disease
( MCTD) |
MCTD refers
to an overlap of several conditions, including
lupus, scleroderma, an polymyositis. Most patients
have antibodies to RNP. |
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|
|
Nephritis |
Inflammation of the kidneys. |
|
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) |
A group of
drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, used
to reduce inflammation that causes pain, redness,
heat and swelling. |
|
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Pericardial Effusion
|
Fluid around the sac
(pericardium) of the heart.
|
Pericarditis
|
Inflammation of the
sac (pericardium) around the heart.
|
Photosensitivity
|
Sensitivity of the
skin to ultraviolet light (sun, fluorescent
lighting, plant lighting).
|
Plasmapheresis
|
Filtration
of blood plasma through a machine to remove proteins
that may aggravate lupus. |
| Platelet |
Cells of the blood
that are responsible for forming blood clots. |
Pleural
Effusion
|
Fluid collects in the
sac lining (pleura) the lungs. |
Pleuritis
(Pleurisy) |
Inflammation of the Pleura. |
Prednisone
|
Synthetic
steroid. |
|
Proteinuria |
Excessive
protein levels found in the urine, also called
albuminuria. This is often the result of
glomerulonephritis. |
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|
Raynaud's
Phenomenon)
|
Discoloration (red, white and blue) and sometimes
pain or numbness in the hands and/or feet usually
induced by cold temperature or stress. |
Rheumatic
Disease |
Any one of
the 150 disorders that affects the immune or
musculoskeletal systems. |
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|
|
Sedimentation Rate (Sed-rate) |
A
non-specific test that correlates with degrees of
inflammation. |
Sjogren's
syndrome |
A disease
characterized by dryness: dry eyes and dry mouth;
the condition can occur by itself or accompany
another rheumatic disease, especially rheumatoid
arthiritis. |
| Steroid |
Steroid
generally refers to corticosteroids. They are not to
be confused with anabolic steroids. |
| STS |
Serologic
Test for Syphillis; false positive tests can
occur in people with lupus. |
| Systemic |
Affecting
the whole body. |
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|
|
Thrombocytopenia |
A low
platelet count. |
| Titer |
An
expression of antibody levels. A high titer of
antinuclear antibodies may be seen in lupus. |
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Undifferentiated
Connective Tissue
Disease (UCTD) |
Signs and
symptoms of autoimmunity in a person who does not
meet established criteria for lupus, rheumatoid
arthritis, Sjogren's Syndrome or any other
autoimmune disease. |
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|
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Vasculitis |
Inflammation of blood vessels. |
