The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Lupus (31 page)

Hematology:
A subspecialty of internal medicine concerned with

morphology, physiology, and pathology of the blood and blood-forming

tissues. [NIH]

Heredity:
1. the genetic transmission of a particular quality or trait from parent to offspring. 2. the genetic constitution of an individual. [EU]

Humoral:
Of, relating to, proceeding from, or involving a bodily humour -

now often used of endocrine factors as opposed to neural or somatic. [EU]

Hyperlipidemia:
An excess of lipids in the blood. [NIH]

Hypertension:
Persistently high arterial blood pressure. Various criteria for its threshold have been suggested, ranging from 140 mm. Hg systolic and 90

mm. Hg diastolic to as high as 200 mm. Hg systolic and 110 mm. Hg

diastolic. Hypertension may have no known cause (essential or idiopathic h.)

or be associated with other primary diseases (secondary h.). [EU]

Hypotension:
Abnormally low blood pressure; seen in shock but not

necessarily indicative of it. [EU]

Iatrogenic:
Resulting from the activity of physicians. Originally applied to disorders induced in the patient by autosuggestion based on the physician's

examination, manner, or discussion, the term is now applied to any adverse

condition in a patient occurring as the result of treatment by a physician or

surgeon, especially to infections acquired by the patient during the course of treatment. [EU]

Idiopathic:
Of the nature of an idiopathy; self-originated; of unknown causation. [EU]

Indicative:
That indicates; that points out more or less exactly; that reveals fairly clearly. [EU]

182 Lupus Nephritis

Induction:
The act or process of inducing or causing to occur, especially the production of a specific morphogenetic effect in the developing embryo

through the influence of evocators or organizers, or the production of

anaesthesia or unconsciousness by use of appropriate agents. [EU]

Infiltration:
The diffusion or accumulation in a tissue or cells of substances not normal to it or in amounts of the normal. Also, the material so

accumulated. [EU]

Inflammation:
A pathological process characterized by injury or destruction of tissues caused by a variety of cytologic and chemical reactions. It is

usually manifested by typical signs of pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function. [NIH]

Infusion:
The therapeutic introduction of a fluid other than blood, as saline solution, solution, into a vein. [EU]

Ingestion:
The act of taking food, medicines, etc., into the body, by mouth.

[EU]

Inhalation:
The drawing of air or other substances into the lungs. [EU]

Interstitial:
Pertaining to or situated between parts or in the interspaces of a tissue. [EU]

Intrinsic:
Situated entirely within or pertaining exclusively to a part. [EU]

Iodine:
A nonmetallic element of the halogen group that is represented by the atomic symbol I, atomic number 53, and atomic weight of 126.90. It is a

nutritionally essential element, especially important in thyroid hormone

synthesis. In solution, it has anti-infective properties and is used topically.

[NIH]

Lesion:
Any pathological or traumatic discontinuity of tissue or loss of function of a part. [EU]

Ligation:
Application of a ligature to tie a vessel or strangulate a part. [NIH]

Lupus:
A form of cutaneous tuberculosis. It is seen predominantly in

women and typically involves the nasal, buccal, and conjunctival mucosa.

[NIH]

Mediator:
An object or substance by which something is mediated, such as (1) a structure of the nervous system that transmits impulses eliciting a

specific response; (2) a chemical substance (transmitter substance) that

induces activity in an excitable tissue, such as nerve or muscle; or (3) a

substance released from cells as the result of the interaction of antigen with antibody or by the action of antigen with a sensitized lymphocyte. [EU]

Membrane:
A thin layer of tissue which covers a surface, lines a cavity or divides a space or organ. [EU]

Microscopy:
The application of microscope magnification to the study of materials that cannot be properly seen by the unaided eye. [NIH]

Glossary 183

Molecular:
Of, pertaining to, or composed of molecules : a very small mass of matter. [EU]

Monocytes:
Large, phagocytic mononuclear leukocytes produced in the

vertebrate bone marrow and released into the blood; contain a large, oval or

somewhat indented nucleus surrounded by voluminous cytoplasm and

numerous organelles. [NIH]

Mutagenesis:
Process of generating genetic mutations. It may occur

spontaneously or be induced by mutagens. [NIH]

Necrosis:
The sum of the morphological changes indicative of cell death and caused by the progressive degradative action of enzymes; it may affect

groups of cells or part of a structure or an organ. [EU]

Nephritis:
Inflammation of the kidney; a focal or diffuse proliferative or destructive process which may involve the glomerulus, tubule, or interstitial

renal tissue. [EU]

Nephrology:
A subspecialty of internal medicine concerned with the

anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the kidney. [NIH]

Nephrons:
The functional units of the kidney, consisting of the glomerulus and the attached tubule. [NIH]

Nephropathy:
Disease of the kidneys. [EU]

Niacin:
Water-soluble vitamin of the B complex occurring in various animal and plant tissues. Required by the body for the formation of coenzymes

NAD and NADP. Has pellagra-curative, vasodilating, and antilipemic

properties. [NIH]

Nitrogen:
An element with the atomic symbol N, atomic number 7, and

atomic weight 14. Nitrogen exists as a diatomic gas and makes up about 78%

of the earth's atmosphere by volume. It is a constituent of proteins and

nucleic acids and found in all living cells. [NIH]

Osteoporosis:
Reduction in the amount of bone mass, leading to fractures after minimal trauma. [EU]

Overdose:
1. to administer an excessive dose. 2. an excessive dose. [EU]

Paradoxical:
Occurring at variance with the normal rule. [EU]

Pediatrics:
A medical specialty concerned with maintaining health and

providing medical care to children from birth to adolescence. [NIH]

Phagocytosis:
Endocytosis of particulate material, such as microorganisms or cell fragments. The material is taken into the cell in membrane-bound

vesicles (phagosomes) that originate as pinched off invaginations of the

plasma membrane. Phagosomes fuse with lysosomes, forming

phagolysosomes in which the engulfed material is killed and digested. [EU]

Phenotype:
The outward appearance of the individual. It is the product of 184 Lupus Nephritis

interactions between genes and between the genotype and the environment.

This includes the killer phenotype, characteristic of yeasts. [NIH]

Plasmapheresis:
Procedure whereby plasma is separated and extracted

from anticoagulated whole blood and the red cells retransfused to the donor.

Plasmapheresis is also employed for therapeutic use. [NIH]

Poisoning:
A condition or physical state produced by the ingestion,

injection or inhalation of, or exposure to a deleterious agent. [NIH]

Polypeptide:
A peptide which on hydrolysis yields more than two amino

acids; called tripeptides, tetrapeptides, etc. according to the number of amino acids contained. [EU]

Potassium:
An element that is in the alkali group of metals. It has an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation

in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte and it plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume

and maintenance of the water-electrolyte balance. [NIH]

Precursor:
Something that precedes. In biological processes, a substance from which another, usually more active or mature substance is formed. In

clinical medicine, a sign or symptom that heralds another. [EU]

Prednisone:
A synthetic anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid derived from

cortisone. It is biologically inert and converted to prednisolone in the liver.

[NIH]

Preeclampsia:
A toxaemia of late pregnancy characterized by hypertension, edema, and proteinuria, when convulsions and coma are associated, it is

called eclampsia. [EU]

Prevalence:
The total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time. It is differentiated from incidence, which

refers to the number of new cases in the population at a given time. [NIH]

Prostaglandins:
A group of compounds derived from unsaturated 20-

carbon fatty acids, primarily arachidonic acid, via the cyclooxygenase

pathway. They are extremely potent mediators of a diverse group of

physiological processes. [NIH]

Protease:
Proteinase (= any enzyme that catalyses the splitting of interior peptide bonds in a protein). [EU]

Proteins:
Polymers of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. The specific sequence of amino acids determines the shape and function of the protein.

[NIH]

Pulse:
The rhythmical expansion and contraction of an artery produced by waves of pressure caused by the ejection of blood from the left ventricle of

the heart as it contracts. [NIH]

Puromycin:
An antibiotic from Streptomyces alboniger that inhibits protein Glossary 185

synthesis by binding to RNA. It is a antineoplastic and antitrypanosomal

agent and is used in research as an inhibitor of protein synthesis. [NIH]

Purpura:
Purplish or brownish red discoloration, easily visible through the epidermis, caused by hemorrhage into the tissues. [NIH]

Quinidine:
An optical isomer of quinine, extracted from the bark of the Cinchona tree and similar plant species. This alkaloid dampens the

excitability of cardiac and skeletal muscles by blocking sodium and

potassium currents across cellular membranes. It prolongs cellular action

potential, and decreases automaticity. Quinidine also blocks muscarinic and

alpha-adrenergic neurotransmission. [NIH]

Receptor:
1. a molecular structure within a cell or on the surface

characterized by (1) selective binding of a specific substance and (2) a

specific physiologic effect that accompanies the binding, e.g., cell-surface

receptors for peptide hormones, neurotransmitters, antigens, complement

fragments, and immunoglobulins and cytoplasmic receptors for steroid

hormones. 2. a sensory nerve terminal that responds to stimuli of various

kinds. [EU]

Recombinant:
1. a cell or an individual with a new combination of genes not found together in either parent; usually applied to linked genes. [EU]

Reconstitution:
1. a type of regeneration in which a new organ forms by the rearrangement of tissues rather than from new formation at an injured

surface. 2. the restoration to original form of a substance previously altered for preservation and storage, as the restoration to a liquid state of blood

serum or plasma that has been dried and stored. [EU]

Rectal:
Pertaining to the rectum (= distal portion of the large intestine). [EU]

Remission:
A diminution or abatement of the symptoms of a disease; also the period during which such diminution occurs. [EU]

Respiratory:
Pertaining to respiration. [EU]

Retina:
The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. It is

continuous with the optic nerve and receives images of external objects and

transmits visual impulses to the brain. Its outer surface is in contact with the choroid and the inner surface with the vitreous body. The outer-most layer is

pigmented, whereas the inner nine layers are transparent. [NIH]

Riboflavin:
Nutritional factor found in milk, eggs, malted barley, liver, kidney, heart, and leafy vegetables. The richest natural source is yeast. It

occurs in the free form only in the retina of the eye, in whey, and in urine; its principal forms in tissues and cells are as FMN and FAD. [NIH]

Sclerosis:
A induration, or hardening; especially hardening of a part from inflammation and in diseases of the interstitial substance. The term is used

chiefly for such a hardening of the nervous system due to hyperplasia of the

186 Lupus Nephritis

connective tissue or to designate hardening of the blood vessels. [EU]

Seizures:
Clinical or subclinical disturbances of cortical function due to a sudden, abnormal, excessive, and disorganized discharge of brain cells.

Clinical manifestations include abnormal motor, sensory and psychic

phenomena. Recurrent seizures are usually referred to as epilepsy or

"seizure disorder." [NIH]

Selenium:
An element with the atomic symbol Se, atomic number 34, and

atomic weight 78.96. It is an essential micronutrient for mammals and other

animals but is toxic in large amounts. Selenium protects intracellular

structures against oxidative damage. It is an essential component of

glutathione peroxidase. [NIH]

Serum:
The clear portion of any body fluid; the clear fluid moistening serous membranes. 2. blood serum; the clear liquid that separates from blood