| Dermatomyositis |
An autoimmune process directed against muscles associated
with skin rashes |
| Discoid lupus |
A thick plaquelike rash seen in 20% of those with SLE.
If the patient has the rash but not SLE, he or she is said to
have cutaneous (discoid) lupus erythematosus |
| Diuretic |
A drug that helps to make more urine |
| DNA |
Deoxyribonucleic acid. The body's building blocks. A molecule
responsible for the production of all the body's proteins |
| ECG (or EKG) |
Electrocardiogram, a recording of electrical forces from
the heart |
| Electro-retinography |
A sensitive screening test for early abnormalities of the
retina of the eye |
| ENA |
Extractable Nuclear Antibody. Blood test that covers Anti-RNP,
Anti-Sm, Anti-La, Anti-Ro antibodies. |
| Endocarditis |
Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart |
| Eosinophils |
White blood cells that make up 0-5% of all white blood cells.
Eosinophils are involved in allergic responses.
Normal range
= up to 0.5 |
| Erythema |
A reddish hue |
| Erythrocytes |
Red blood cells, which have no nucleus & transport oxygen
to the tissues |
| ESR |
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The blood test used as a
'barometer' of inflammation. Normal range = male 0-15mm/hour;
female 0-20 mm/hour |
| Fibromyalgia (fibrositis) |
A pain amplification syndrome characterised by fatigue,
a sleep disorder, & tender points in the soft tissues; can
be caused by steroids & mistaken for lupus, although
20% of those with lupus have fibromyalgia |
| Flare |
Symptoms reappear |
| Gene |
The biologic unit of heredity located on a particular chromosome |
| Glomerulonephritis |
Inflammation of the glomerulus of the kidney; seen in one-third
of patients with lupus |
| Haematocrit |
A measurement of red blood cell levels. Low levels produce
anaemia |
| Haematuria |
Red blood cells in the urine |
| Haemiparesis |
Paralysis or weakness on one side of the body |
| Haemoglobin |
Oxygen-carrying protein of red blood cells. Low levels produce
anaemia.
Normal range = 13.2-17.0 |
| Haemolytic anaemia |
Anaemia caused by premature destruction of red blood cells
due to antibodies to the red blood cell surface |
| Histology |
The study of the microscopic structure of tissue |
| Histopathology |
The study of microscopic changes in diseased tissue |
| IgG (Immunoglobulin G) |
The major antibody of plasma & the most important part
of our antibody response. Most autoimmune diseases are characterised
by IgG antibodies |
| IgM |
Initially produced to fight antigens but soon decreases &
allows IgG to take over. It plays an important but secondary
role in autoimmunity |
| Immune complex |
An antigen & antibody together |
| Immunosuppresive |
A medication such as cyclophosphamide or azathioprine,
which treats lupus by supppressing the immune system |
| Inflammation |
Swelling, heat, & redness resulting from the infiltration
of white blood cells into tissues |
| Interstitial pneumonitis |
Atypical pneumonia due to either a virus or unknown factors |
| Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) |
An x-ray examination of the kidneys |
| LE cell |
Specific cell found in blood specimens of most lupus
patients. The LE cell is a white blood cell that has swallowed
the nucleus of another white blood cell |
|
| Lesion |
A change in tissue due to injury or disease |
| Leukopenia |
A low white blood cell count. |
| Livedo reticularis |
A blotchy purplish discoloration of blood vessels, usually
on the wrists and knees |
| Lupus anticoagulent |
A means of detecting antiphospholipid antibodies from
prolonged clotting times |
| Lupus profundus |
Inflammation of subcutaneous fat |
| Lupus vulgaris |
Tuberculosis of the skin; not related to systemic or discoid
lupus |
| Lymph glands |
Glands situated strategically around the body to protect
against the spread of infection |
| Lymphocyte |
Type of white blood cell that fights infection & mediates
the immune response.
Normal range = 1.20-4.0 |
| Lymphopenia |
A decrease in the number of lymphocytes in the blood. |
| Macrophages |
Cells that eat antigens, immune complexes, bacteria, &
viruses |
| Mixed connective tissue disease |
Exists when a patient who carries the anti-RNP antibody
has features of more than one autoimmune disease |
| Monocytes |
White cells that represent about 5% of circulating blood
cells. They are responsible for processing foreign materials
(antigens), & the destroying cells & tissue debris that
are by products of inflammation.
Normal range = 0.2-1.0 |
| MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) |
The form of scan using magnetism rather than x-rays |
| Myasthenia Gravis |
Disease in which antibodies block nerve impulses from being
properly transmitted to the muscle cells; as a result, muscles
become weak |
| Myocarditis |
Inflammation of the heart |
| Nephritis |
Inflammation of the kidney |
| Neuropathy |
Disease of the nerves |
| Neutrophils |
White blood cells, made in the bone marrow. 50-70% of circulating
white cells are neutrophils.
Normal range = 2.2-7.5 |
| NSAID |
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or agent
that fights inflammation by blocking the actions of prostaglandin. |
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Lupus & Infections 
Lupus in Men