Glossary
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | W |Ablate - to remove.
Acute - having a rapid onset, severs symptoms and a short course.
Adrenal corticosteroid - it is a hormonal steroid produced by the adrenal gland which do not initiate cellular or enzymatic activity.
Allogeneic - having a different genetic make up but belonging to the same species ( i.e. the donor being someone other than the patient or an identical twin).
Anemia - it is not a disease but a symptom of various diseases. It is a decrease in the number of RBC, therefore the hemoglobin level is less than the body requires to provide oxygen demands of the body. (decrease of iron)
Antigen - a protein marker on the surface of cells that identifies the cell as "self" or "non-self" and stimulates the production of antibodies.
Antineoplastic - a medication that prevents the development , growth or rapid production of malignant cells.
Anti-rejection drug - a medication to help prevent the recipient body from rejecting the donor's bone marrow, organ or blood.
Aorta - the main trunk of the arterial system of the body.
Aplastic Anemia - is an anemia caused by deficient red cell production due to bone marrow disorder.
Arterial - pertaining to one or more arteries.
Artery - vessels that carry blood from the heart to the tissues.
Aspirate - to draw in or out by suction; withdrawal of fluid or air from an affected area.
ATG- Antithymocyte globulin - an immunosuppressive.
Autoimmune - a disease when the bodies' immune system attacks itself i.e. diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis).
Autologous - originating within one self ( the patient will be their own donor)
B-cells - it is a lymphocyte stem cell that starts in the bone marrow and migrates to the spleen and lymph nodes. It helps in fighting off infection by producing antibodies that will destroy the invading cell.
Biopsy - to obtain a tissue sample for microscopic examination, usually to help in finding a diagnosis.
BMT - Bone Marrow Transplant - transplantation of bone marrow from one individual to another.
Bone marrow - the soft organic material found inside the bones.
Cadaveric - non-living; pertaining to a dead body.
Cerebral hemorrhage - the escape of blood into the tissue of the brain.
Chemotherapy - the application of chemical reagents that have a specific and toxic effect on the disease-causing microorganisms.
Chimerism - presence of cells from two different individuals.
Chronic - a long duration; a diseases showing little or slow progression.
Conditioning - destroying the diseased bone marrow with chemotherapy and radiation to make room for the transplantation of new and healthy bone marrow.
C-peptide - A substance that the pancreas releases into the bloodstream as a byproduct of insulin production. The C-peptide level is a rough indication of how much insulin the body is making.
Cranial - pertaining to the portion of the skull that enxloses the brain.
Crossmatch - a test to establish blood compatibility before transfusion.
Cyclophosphamide - an effective antineoplastic medication which can also be used as an immunosuppressive agent in organ transplant.
Cytogenetic - the study of the formation, structure and function of cells in relation to genetics (heredity).
Donor - a person who gives blood, tissue or an organ to be used in another person.
Ecchymoses - a skin discoloration consisting of large, irregularly formed hemorrhagic(bruise) areas. Staring out as blue-black and changing to greenish brown or yellow.
Endogenous - produced or originating from within a cell.
Engraft - when the donor's tissue, bone marrow and/or organ starts to function within the recipient's body.
Enzymatic deficiency - a decrease or lack of enzymes.
Enzymes - proteins that change the rate of a chemical reaction without needing an external energy source or being changed themselves (i.e. changing a starch into sugar).
Facilitating Cell (FC) - a cell in the bone marrow that helps the stem cell engraft.
Fanconi syndrome - a congenital (present at birth) hypoplastic anemia ( the underdevelopment of the red blood cells).
Full ablation - a process that destroys all of the bone marrow with chemotherapy and radiation to make room for the transplantation of new and healthy bone marrow.
Genes - the basic unit of heredity made of DNA.
Genetic - pertinent to reproduction; heredity
Glucose - sugar
Graft failure - the failure of the donor's bone marrow to attach and function in the recipients body.
GVHD - Graft-versus-Host Disease - a disease that occurs when the donor's bone marrow attacks the host/recipient's body as foreign; in its severe form, GVHD is often fatal.
Harvest - to obtain and remove blood , bone marrow and etc from the donor to be put into the recipient.
Hematologic - pertaining to blood and the blood-forming tissues.
Hematopoiesis - the production and development of blood cells, normally in the bone marrow.
Hematopoietic - a substance that stimulates the production and development of blood cells.
Hemodynamic - the study of the forces involved in circulating blood through the body.
Hemoglobin - the iron-containg pigment of the RBC which carries the oxygen from the lungs to the tissues.
Hemoglobinopathy - a group of diseases caused by or associated with the presence of one of several forms of abnormal hemoglobin i.e. sickle cell disease.
Hemorrhage - an abnormal, severe loss of blood.
Hereditary - relating to the genetic characteristic transmitted from the parent to the child.
Heterogenous - composed of unlike substances.
HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) - a form of serologic and molecular testing to identify 6 genetic markers on blood cells. The donor needs to match at least 3 out of 6 antigens to be considered a match.
HLA identical (matched) - two individuals who have the same genetic markers on their cells.
HLA unidentical (unmatched) - Human Leukocyte antigen - it is a form of serologic and molecular testing to identify antigens in the blood. The donor will match 0 -3 out of 6 antigens.
Hypocellular - a decrease in the number of cells of any tissue.
Idiopathic - unknown reasons for a disease.
Immune deficiency - disorders of the immune system.
Immune system - a system that protects from or is resistant to a disease or infection as a result of the development of antibodies.
Immunity - the state of being immune or protected from a disease, especially an infectious disease.
Immunosuppression - the use of natural and synthetic substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system's response.
Inotropic - influencing the force of the muscle to contract or shorten.
Insulin - a hormone secretade by the islet cells of the pancreas; it is essential for the use of glucose by cells to produce energy; it lowers the blood glucose level.
Intra-aortic - within the aorta.
Intravenous - within a vein (i.e. using an IV).
Islet Cells - cluster of cells in the pancreas; they regulate the blood glucose level with insulin.
Leukemia - a malignancy of the white blood cells in the bone marrow.
Lymph - a fluid found in the lymphatic vessels which is usually a clear, transparent and colorless fluid; is a part of the immune system.
Lymph nodes - it is a small kidney shaped organ of the lymphoid tissue; it contains lymphocytes and macrophages. An increase in size of the node indicates a high level of activity during infection.
Lymphatic - pertaining to the lymph.
Lymphocytapheresis - the removal of lymphocytes from the blood after it has been drawn. Then the blood is returned to the person.
Macrophage - it is a monocyte that helps to fight infections; they serve as scavengers of the blood, clearing it of abnormal or old cells and cellular debris as well as pathogeni organisms.
Malignancy - a tumor that is cancerous instead of benign.
Metabolism - the sum of all energy and material transformation that occurs within living cells; the rate of building up or breaking down of ingested substances.
Methylprednisolone - an adrenal corticosteroid
Mixed chimerism - cells from two different individuals co-exist and function in one body (i.e. the host/recipient and the donor's bone marrow co-exist in the host's body).
Morbidity - the satate of being diseased; the number of sick persons or cases of a disease in relationship to specific population.
Mortality - the condition of being subject to death; the ratio of the number of deaths to given group of population.
Multiple Scelorsis - a chronic auto-immune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system.
Myelin sheath - layers of cell membranes of the peripheral or central nervous system that wrap nerve fibers providing electrical insulation and increasing the speed of impulse transmission.
NK (natural killer) cells - a large lymphocyte that bonds to cells and destroys them. These cells are effective against cells infected with viruses and some type of tumor cells.
Occult blood - to identify gastrointestinal bleeding by a chemical test or microscopic exam for blood especially in the feces that is not apparent on visual inspection.
Pancytopenia - a decrease in all blood cells.
Partial ablation/conditioning - a process that destroy a small amount of the diseased bone marrow with chemotherapy and radiation to make room for the transplantation of new and healthy bone marrow.
Pathogenic - production of disease.
Petechiae - a small, purplish hemorrhagic spots on the skin.
Phagocytes - a cell having the ability to ingest and destroy particulate substances such as bacteria or cell debris.
Phenotypically - pertaining to the genes of an individual ( e.g. eye color or blood types) which are determined by either hereditary while others are altered by environmental agents.
Platelets (thrombocyte) - cells found in the bone marrow that help in the coagulation (clotting) of the blood.
Radiation - treatment of cancer using radioactive materials. The material maybe implants or a source outside the body.
Recipient (Host) - the individual that receives the blood, tissue or organ provided by a donor.
Red Blood cell (RBC) or (Erythrocyte) - it is a nonnucleated cell which contains hemoglobin (a form of iron) . Its primary purpose is to carry oxygen. Average life span is 120 days.
Refractoriness - obstinate, stubborn; resistant to ordinary treatment or stimulation.
Rejection - the inability to accept or the destruction of the transplanted material by the host's immune system.
Resistance - ability to fight off infection.
Reticulocytes - the last immature stage of RBC; they do not carry oxygen as a mature RBC does.
Secondary infection - an infection made possible by a primary (first) infection that lowers the persons resistance.
Sickle Cell Disease - a inherited disease that causes an abnormality in the red blood cells in which the red blood cells become sickle shape.
Spleen - it is a organ in the upper left abdominal quadrant. Lymphocytes and monocytes are produced in the spleen. It helps to control the bacteria in the blood.
Stem cells - the cells that are found in the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. These cells may become either RBC, WBC or platelets.
Syngeneic - a description of individuals that are without detectable tissue incompatibility; in transplantations the donor and the recipient are identical twins.
TBI (Total Body Irradiation) - the therapeutic application of x-ray photons, nuclear particles, high-speed electrons, ultra violet rays or other forms of radiation to a patients total body.
T-cell - it is a lymphocyte that helps fight infection. It originates in the bone marrow and need macrophages to help identify the "non-self" antigen before it responds.
Thiotepa - a medication that is cytotoxic and is used in treating certain types of tumors.
Tolerance -to endure or have a decreased sensitivity to the donor's bone marrow (acceptance of the transplanted organ or bone marrow); capacity for enduring a large amount of substance without an adverse effect.
Transfusion - injection of blood or a blood component into the bloodstream.
Urinary retention - the inability to urinate.
White blood cell (WBC) or (leukocyte) - they are the primary cells against infection. They also act as scavengers, cleaning up damaged cells and initiating the repair process.
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