Autoimmune Diseases Dictionary

abdomen: The portion of the torso between the chest and the pelvis.

abdominal: Of or relating to the abdomen.

allergy: A reaction by the immune system to foreign substances that are not threats, such as pet dander, plant pollen, and dust.

alopecia: Hair loss or baldness.

amyloidosis: Refers to a variety of rare conditions that result in pathological aggregation of extracellular amyloid deposition.

ANA blood test: The full name of the ANA blood test is the immunofluorescent anti-nuclear antibody test. The tests measures specific autoantibodies called anti-nuclear antibodies. 95 percent of lupus cases have positive ANA blood tests.

anemia: A state where the blood has insufficient amounts of red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry normal levels of oxygen through the body.

antibodies: Proteins produced by the body's immune system to destroy foreign substances.

anti-endomysial antibodies: Antibodies produced in reaction to gluten.

antimalarial drug: medication used in the treatment of malaria. Antimalarial drugs have some applications in lupus treatment.

antinuclear antibody test: This test is used to help diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and drug-induced lupus, but may also be positive in cases of scleroderma, Sjögren’s syndrome, Raynaud’s disease, juvenile chronic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, autoimmune hepatitis and many other autoimmune and non-autoimmune diseases.

arava: A disease-modifying drug that treats rheumatoid arthritis by targeting the white blood cells that contribute to the inflammatory process.

arrhythmia: Abnormal fluctuations in heart rhythm.

atherosclerosis: Thickening and hardening of the arteries accompanied by buildups of fatty substances.

autoantibodies: Antibodies produced by a faulty immune system that target and damage body tissue.

autoimmune disease: A disease of the immune system, in which the immune system mistakes tissue other parts of the body as a threat and produces antibodies that damage the body.

axon: A long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body or soma.

barium: A metal element drunk as a thick chalky liquid so the intestines will show up on X-rays.

benign multiple sclerosis: People with benign multiple sclerosis rarely suffer mild attacks and experience a complete recovery after the attacks. Because the symptoms do not worsen, people with benign multiple sclerosis have almost no disability.

biopsy: An excised tissue sample harvested for microscopic analysis.

bowel: Alternate name for the intestines.

butterfly rashes: A flat red rash over the nose. Approximately fifty percent of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus develop a butterfly rash. As the rash centers on the bridge of the nose its shape is thought to resemble a butterfly.

capillaries: The smallest blood vessels in the circulatory system.

carditis: Inflammation of the heart.

catheter: A thin tube inserted into the body to collect or inject substances.

celiac disease: An immune disorder where the body has a severe reaction against gluten, a protein found in wheat and most other grains. Celiac disease can cause malnutrition and digestion problems. A gluten-free diet is the only known treatment.

celiac sprue: Another older name for celiac disease.

central nervous system vasculitis: Inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain.

cerebrospinal fluid: Fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

cerebritis: Inflammation of the brain.

chronic progressive multiple sclerosis: An outdated term used to describe any form of progressive multiple sclerosis.

cognitive dysfunction: Confusion, memory problems, and difficulty expressing thoughts.

colitis: Inflammation of the colon, also known as the large intestine or large bowel

colon: A portion of the large intestine between the cecum and the rectum that removes water from digested food, and transporting the remaining stool into the rectum for evacuation.

coma: A state of deep unconsciousness from which the person cannot be woken.

complete blood count (CBC): A blood test for levels of both red and white blood cells.

corticosteroids: Synthetic versions of naturally occurring steroids used to treat inflammation.

cortisone: A steroid hormone that can be used as an anti-inflammatory medicine.

Cushing's Syndrome: Signs and symptoms of Cushing's include a round, moon-like face, weight gain, weak muscles, thin skin and fragile, brittle bones.

cutaneous manifestations: The cutaneous (strictly speaking, subcutaneous) feature most characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis is the rheumatoid nodule. The initial pathologic process in nodule formation is unknown but is thought to be related to small-vessel inflammation. The mature lesion is defined by an area of central necrosis surrounded by palisading macrophages and fibroblasts and a cuff of cellular connective tissue and chronic inflammatory cells.

cytotoxic: Any substance that kills living cells.

demyelination: Refers to a loss of myelin, a substance in the white matter that insulates nerve endings. Myelin helps the nerves receive and interpret messages from the brain at maximum speed. When nerve endings lose myelin, they can not function properly, leading to patches of scarring (known as sclerosis) where nerve endings have lost myelin. These areas of scarring give multiple sclerosis its name.

depression: A mental disorder characterized by sadness, guilt, feelings of worthlessness, and fatigue. Depression may also cause changes in sleep patterns, appetite, and weight. Severe depression can result in suicidal thinking or suicide attempts.

dermatitis herpetiformis: A serious skin disease associated with celiac disease that causes blisters, rash, and severe discomfort on the buttocks, elbows, and knees.

diabetes: A disorder where the body cannot control blood sugar levels due either to insufficient insulin production or an increased resistance to insulin.

diarrhea: Frequent loose, often liquid, bowel movements.

discoid lupus: A form of lupus that only affects the skin.

disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs): Drugs to treat the symptoms of RA; they can actually slow the progression of joint deterioration.

drug-induced lupus: A form of lupus triggered by the use of some medications in some individuals.

duodenum: The first portion of the small intestine, between the bottom of the stomach and the jejunum. Peptic ulcers are common in the duodenum.

enbrel: A biologic agent designed to control rheumatoid arthritis by suppressing chemicals that cause inflammation.

endoscope: A thin, flexible fiber optic tube used to examine the small intestine.

environmental factors: An element in the local environment that has a direct impact on health.

erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR or sed rate): A blood test that measures the presence of an inflammatory process in your body. People with rheumatoid arthritis tend to have elevated ESRs. The ESRs in those with osteoarthritis tend to be normal.

esophagus: The section of the gastrointestinal system that connects the stomach to the throat.

estrogen: The main female sex hormone, responsible for the development of secondary sex characteristics in women.