The Lupus Book: A Guide for Patients and Their Families, Third Edition (51 page)

FANA

Another term for ANA.

Fibrositis, or fibromyalgia

A pain amplification syndrome characterized by

fatigue, a sleep disorder, and tender points in the soft tissues; can be

caused by steroids and mistaken for lupus, although 20 percent of those

with lupus have fibrositis.

Flare

Symptoms reappear; another word for exacerbation.

Gene

Consisting of DNA, it is the basic unit of inherited information in our

cells.

Glomerulonephritis

Inflammation of the glomerulus of the kidney; seen in

one-third of patients with lupus.

Hematocrit

A measurement of red blood cell levels. Low levels produce ane-

mia.

Hemoglobin

Oxygen-carrying protein of red blood cells. Low levels produce

anemia.

Hemolytic anemia

Anemia caused by premature destruction of red blood cells

due to antibodies to the red blood cell surface. Also called
autoimmune

hemolytic anemia
.

Hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver.

HLA, or histocompatibility antigen

Molecules inside the macrophage that

binds to an antigenic peptide. Controlled by genes on the sixth chromo-

some. They can amplify or perpetuate certain immune and inflammatory

responses.

Hormones

Chemical messengers—including thyroid, steroids, insulin, estro-

gen, progesterone, and testosterone—made by the body.

Immune complex

An antibody and antigen together.

Immunofluorescence

A means of detecting immune processes with a fluores-

cent stain and a special microscope.

Immunoglobulus

Protein fraction of serum responsible for antibody activity.

Immunity

The body’s defense against foreign substances.

Immunosuppressive

A medication such as cyclophosphamide or azathioprine,

which treats lupus by suppressing the immune system.

Inflammation

Swelling, heat, and redness resulting from the infiltration of

white blood cells into tissues.

Kidney biopsy

Removal of a bit of kidney tissue for microscopic analysis.

La antibody

Also called anti-SSB, a Sjo¨gren’s antibody.

LE cell

Specific cell found in blood specimens of most lupus patients.

Ligament

A tether attaching bone to bone, giving them stability.

Lupus anticoagulant

A means of detecting antiphospholipid antibodies from

prolonged clotting times.

Lupus vulgaris

Tuberculosis of the skin; not related to systemic or discoid

lupus.

Lymph

Fluid collected from tissues and flows through lymph nodes.

Glossary

[271]

Lymphocyte

Type of white blood cell that fights infection and mediates the

immune response.

Macrophage

A cell that kills foreign material and presents information to

lymphocytes.

MHC

Major histocompatibility complex; in humans, it is the same as HLA.

Mixed connective tissue disease

Exists when a patient who carries the anti-

RNP antibody has features of more than one autoimmune disease.

Natural killer cell

A white blood cell that kills other cells.

Nephritis

Inflammation of the kidney.

Neutrophil

A granulated white blood cell involved in bacterial killing and

acute inflammation.

NSAID

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or agent that fights inflammation

by blocking the actions of prostaglandin. Examples include aspirin, ibu-

profen, and naproxen.

Nucleus

The center of a cell that contains DNA.

Orthopedic surgeon

A doctor who operates on musculoskeletal structures.

Pathogenic

Causing disease, or abnormal reactions.

Pathology

Abnormal cellular or anatomic features.

Pericardial effusion

Fluid around the sac of the heart.

Pericarditis

Inflammation of the pericardium.

Pericardium

A sac lining the heart.

Petechiae

Small red spots under the skin.

Photosensitivity

Sensitivity to ultraviolet light.

Plasma

The fluid portion of blood.

Plasmapheresis

Filtration of blood plasma through a machine to remove pro-

teins that may aggravate lupus.

Platelet

A component of blood responsible for clotting.

Pleura

A sac lining the lung.

Pleural effusion

Fluid in the sac lining the lung.

Pleuritis

Irritation or inflammation of the lining of the lung.

Polyarteritis

A disease closely related to lupus featuring inflammation of

medium- and small-sized blood vessels.

Polymyalgia rheumatica

An autoimmune disease of the joints and muscles

seen in older patients with high sedimentation rates who have severe ach-

ing in their shoulders, upper arms, hips, and upper legs.

Polymyositis

An autoimmune disease that targets muscles.

Prednisone; prednisolone

Synthetic steroids.

Protein

A collection of amino acids. Antibodies are proteins.

Proteinuria

Excess protein levels in the urine (also called albuminuria).

Pulse steroids

Very high doses of corticosteroids given intravenously over 1

to 3 days to critically ill patients.

Purpura

Hemorrhage into the skin.

[272]

Glossary

Raynaud’s disease

Isolated Raynaud’s phenomenon; not part of any other

disease.

Raynaud’s phenomenon

Discoloration of the hands or feet (they turn blue,

white, or red) especially with cold temperatures; a feature of an autoim-

mune disease.

RBC

Red blood cell count.

Remission

Quiet period free from symptoms, but not necessarily representing

a cure.

Rheumatic disease

Any of 150 disorders affecting the immune or musculo-

skeletal systems. About 30 of these are also autoimmune.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Chronic disease of the joints marked by inflammatory

changes in the joint-lining membranes, which may give positive results

on tests of rheumatoid factor and ANA.

Rheumatoid factor

Autoantibodies that react with IgG; seen in most patients

with rheumatoid arthritis and 25 percent of those with SLE.

Rheumatologist

An internal medicine specialist who has completed at least a

2-year fellowship studying rheumatic diseases (see above).

Ro antibody

See anti-SSA.

Salicylates

Aspirin like drugs.

Scleroderma

An autoimmune disease featuring rheumatoid-type inflamma-

tion, tight skin, and vascular problems (e.g., Raynaud’s).

Sedimentation rate

Test that measures the precipitation of red cells in a col-

umn of blood; high rates usually indicate increased disease activity.

Serum

Clear liquid portion of the blood after removal of clotting factors.

Sjo¨gren’s syndrome

Dry eyes, dry mouth, and arthritis observed with most

autoimmune disorders or by itself (primary Sjo¨gren’s).

Steroids

Usually a shortened term for corticosteroids, which are anti-inflam-

matory hormones produced by the adrenal cortex or synthetically.

STS

False-positive serologic test for syphilis.

Symptoms

Changes patients feel.

Synovial fluid

Joint fluid.

Synovitis

Inflammation of the tissues lining a joint.

Synovium

Tissue that lines the joint.

Systemic

Pertaining to or affecting the body as a whole.

T cell

A lymphocyte responsible for immunologic memory.

Tendon

Structures that attach muscle to bone.

Temporal arteritis

Inflammation of the temporal artery (located in the scalp)

associated with high sedimentation rates, systemic symptoms, and some-

times loss of vision.

Thrombocytopenia

Low platelet counts.

Thymus

A gland in the neck area responsible for immunologic maturity.

Titer

Amount of a substance, such as ANA.

Glossary

[273]

Tolerance

The failure to make antibodies to an antigen.

UCTD

Undifferentiated connective tissue disease. Features of autoimmunity

in a patient who does meet established criteria for lupus, rheumatoid ar-

thritis, scleroderma, or inflammatory myositis.

Urinalysis

Analysis of urine.

Urine, 24-hour collection

The collection of all urine passed in a 24-hour

period; it is examined for protein and creatinine to determine how well

the kidneys are functioning.

Urticaria

Hives.

UV light

Ultraviolet light. Its spectrum includes UVA (320 to 400 nanome-

ters), UVB (290 to 320 nm), and UVC (200 to 290 nm) wavelengths.

Uremia

Marked kidney insufficiency frequently necessitating dialysis.

Vasculitis

Inflammation of the blood vessels.

WBC

White blood cell count.

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Appendix

Lupus Resource Materials

WHAT ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE PATIENT SUPPORT IN

THE UNITED STATES?

(Many such organizations exist; only those with a budget of over $1

million are listed.)

Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. (LFA),
2000 L. St. NW, Suite 710, Washington, DC 20036, 202-349-1155 or 800-558-0121, Spanish line, 800-558-

0231. With 50 chapters and 220 support groups in 32 states, the LFA is the

nation’s leading nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding

the cause and cure for lupus. Our mission is to improve the diagnosis and

treatment of lupus; support individuals and families affected by the disease;

increase awareness of lupus among health professionals; and find the cause

and cure. The LFA publishes patient education brochures, fact sheets, articles, and a national magazine,
Lupus Now
᭨. E-mail: [email protected] for

health education information; [email protected] for general information. Web-

sites:
www.lupus.org
and
www.lupusnow.org.

Arthritis Foundation,
P.O. Box 7669, Atlanta, GA 30357, 800-283-7800.

There are 56 U.S. chapters which provide research monies, publish literature,

and offer patient support for arthritis and related conditions such as lupus.

Website:
www.arthritis.org

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA),
22100 Gra-

tiot Ave., E. Detroit, MI 48021, 586-776-3900 (national office); 750 17th

Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20006, 202-466-8511. Website:

www.aarda.org

SLE Foundation,
149 Madison Avenue, Suite 205, New York, NY 10016, 212-

685-4118. E-mail: [email protected]; Website:
www.lupusny.org

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, WHERE ELSE CAN

RELIABLE INFORMATION ABOUT LUPUS BE OBTAINED?

American College of Rheumatology (ACR),
1800 Century Place, Suite 250,

Atlanta, GA 30345, 404-633-3777. This is the professional organization to

which nearly all U.S. and many international rheumatologists belong. Web-

site:
www.rheumatology.org

[276]

Lupus Resource Materials

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

(NIAMS),
Bldg. 31, Room 4C02, 31 Center Dr.-MSC 2350, Bethesda, MD

20892. Part of the National Institutes of Health, NIAMS funds $90 million

dollars in lupus research each year at the Bethesda campus and elsewhere in

the country. The institute also sponsors conferences and publishes patient

education pamphlets and booklets, including specific materials on lupus.

The NIAMS Information Clearinghouse
offers a wide variety of information on rheumatic diseases, including lupus (also information in Spanish). AMS

Information Clearinghouse, 1 AMS Circle, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301-495-

4484; TTY: 301-565-2966; Fax: 301-718-6366; Email: [email protected]

.gov; Website
www.nih.gov/niams/healthinfo/

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, WHAT OTHER

ORGANIZATIONS FUND LUPUS RESEARCH ?

(Many such organizations exist; this list is restricted to those that give

more than $1 million a year to lupus-related research at more than one

institution.)

Alliance for Lupus Research,
28 West 44th Street, Suite 1217, New York, NY

10036, 212-218-2840, was founded in 1999 with the mission to prevent, treat

and cure lupus through medical research. E-mail: [email protected].