Lupus Glossary

Table of Contents

-itis - The suffix -itis means inflammation, therefore arthritis is inflammation of the joints, hepatitis is inflammation of the liver etc.

Acute - Severe or intense, but short term, the opposite of chronic.

Anemia of Chronic Disease - Anemia caused by chronic diseases such as Lupus more...

Antibody - A Y-shaped protein produced by the body's B cells that is used by the body's immune system to identify and kill foreign substances including bacteria, viruses, and toxins.

Antigen - A molecule that stimulates the production of an antibody as an immune response i.e. bacteria, viruses, toxins, and in Lupus patients, autoantigens.

Anticardiolipin Antibodies - A class of antibodies associated with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid Antibodies - Antibodies that interfere with the way blood vessels function. Typically they cause clotting, called thrombosis, and/or narrowing and irregularity of the blood vessels, known as vasculopathy.

Antiphospholipid Syndrome (Hughes Syndrome) - an autoimmune disorder common in Lupus, characterized by recurrent arterial or venous thrombosis and/or fetal losses coupled with persistently elevated levels of antibodies against phospholipids. more...

APRIL - A Proliferation-Inducing Ligand. A close relative of BLyS, APRIL is involved in the stimulation of B cells.

Arteritis - Inflammation of arteries.

Arthralgia - Joint pain.

Arthritis - Arthritis is defined as inflammation of a joint that is usually accompanied by pain, swelling, tenderness and stiffness. In Lupus joints are typically warm and red and often fluid collects. more...

Autoantibody - An antibody directed against the body's own healthy cells rather than against foreign invaders.

Autoantigens - A tissue, usually a protein or complex of proteins (sometimes DNA or RNA), that the body recognizes as foreign. These stimulate the production of autoantibodies.

Autoimmune - An immune response by the body against it's own cells. Autoimmunity is the failure of the immune system to recognize the body's own tissues as "self" thereby attacking and destroying them.

B Cells - White blood cells that produce antibodies. They are made from stem cells in the bone marrow.

BLyS - B Lypmphocyte Stimulator protein. This is elevated in most SLE patients causing over activation of B cells.

CD-20 - A protein involved in the regulation of B-cell function.

CD-22 - A protein involved in the regulation of B-cell function.

Chronic - Long lasting.

Diffuse - Widespread.

DX - Abbreviation for diagnosis.

Dyspnea - Difficult or labored breathing.

Fibromyalgia - A syndrome characterized by diffuse or specific muscle, joint or bone pain, fatigue and a wide variety of other symptoms. more...

Flare - A period of Lupus activity

HDL - High-Density Lipoprotein, or "good cholesterol".

Hypertension - High blood pressure.

Immunocompromised - Patients whose immune systems are compromised due to Lupus or the medications used to treat it.

Immune System - The organs and processes in your body that protect you from illness and infection. It includes but is not limited to white blood cells, the thymus gland, the spleen, the bone marrow, and lymph nodes.

Inflammation - A localized immune response to an injury, infection or irritation that is characterized by pain, redness and swelling. Under normal circumstances it is used by the body to heal but uncontrolled, as in Lupus, it can lead to damage.

Interferon-alpha - Proteins that activate immune cells.

Lesion - An infected or diseased patch of skin, a sore.

LDL - Low-Density Lipoprotein, or "bad cholesterol".

Lupus Anticoagulant - A class of antibodies associated with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Malar - Area on the face above the cheeks.

Nephrologist - A medical specialist in the treatment of kidney disease.

NSAIDs - Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs. Used to reduce inflammation in Lupus.

Nucleus (plural: nuclei) - The membrane surrounded center of a cell that contains the cell's hereditary material and controls the cell's metabolism, growth and reproduction.

Peritoneal Cavity - The space in the abdomen where the organs are located.

Remission - Periods of inactivity of Lupus disease.

Rheumatologist - A medical specialist in the treatment of rheumatic (pathological conditions of the muscles, tendons, joints, bones, or nerves, characterized by discomfort and disability) conditions.

SSRIs - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. A type of antidepressant.

Syndrome - A group of signs or symptoms that characterize a condition. Symptoms that "run together".

Thrombosis - The formation or presence of a thrombus (clot) inside a blood vessel.

Tinnitus - Ringing in the ears.