AA & MDS Glossary

 

AA

Noun: An abbreviation for Aplastic Anaemia .

 

ABLATION

Noun: In medical terms this means the removal by surgery, radiation or otherwise of dead, diseased or unwanted tissue. Immunosuppressive therapy results in the ablation of one's immune system .

Latin - ablatus = to carry away (word made up by Julius Caesar) which came from ab = away + ferre = carry

 

ACUTE GVHD

The primary complication following a Bone Marrow Transplant for aplastic anaemia is Graft-Versus-Host disease (GVHD). In GVHD, the donor's bone marrow attacks the patient's organs and tissues, impairing their ability to function, and increasing the risk of infection. Depending on its severity, GVHD can be a temporary inconvenience or a life-threatening condition.

GVHD is often discussed as if it were a single disease. In fact, it is two closely related diseases: acute GVHD and chronic GVHD. Patients may develop one, both or neither. Acute GVHD occurs within the first 100 days after transplant, but most often between 15 and 40 days after stem cell infusion. Chronic GVHD occurs beyond day 100 after transplant. Acute GVHD can lead to chronic GVHD, but chronic GVHD may occur without any evidence of previous acute GVHD. The chronic version may occur up to several years after transplant. In patients receiving a graft from an HLA - identical brother or sister, ultimately the donor stem cells will function quite normally. Patients who receive grafts from HLA- mismatched donors will remain at an increased risk of infections for many years.

With acute GVHD the major targets are the skin, bowel, and liver. The skin is often the first tissue that shows signs of attack. A skin rash develops, often starting on the palms, soles, and behind the ears. It may spread to other parts of the body, developing into a general redness similar to a sunburn, with peeling or blistering skin. Cramping, nausea and watery or bloody diarrhoea are signs of acute GVHD in the stomach or intestines. Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) indicates GVHD has affected the liver.

Patients with chronic GVHD usually experience skin problems such as a dry, itching rash, a change in skin colour, and tautness or tightening of the skin. Occasionally, patients with chronic GVHD experience contractures (a tightening of the tendons in joints that makes extending or contracting arms and legs difficult). Partial loss or premature greying may also occur.

Chronic GVHD can also attack glands in the body that secrete mucus, saliva or other lubricants. Patients may experience dry or stinging eyes, a dry mouth and throat, and a burning sensation in the mouth when using toothpaste or eating acidic foods. The digestive tract may be affected by chronic GVHD, causing heartburn, stomach pain or weight loss. Chronic GVHD may also affect the liver and lungs, causing wheezing, bronchitis or pneumonia.

To reduce the incidence and severity of acute GVHD, patients are given immunosuppressive drugs . These drugs are routinely administered for approximately six months post- BMT , and longer if the patient develops chronic GVHD.

The risk of developing acute GVHD depends on the source of Bone marrow and the choice of medications given to prevent it. In most cases, patients develop only a mild or moderate form of the disease.

Although most patients recover from GVHD, symptoms such as skin sensitivity, eye irritation, chronic diarrhoea and, less frequently, lung and liver problems or contractures, may persist long-term. Most patients, however, do not experience long-term debilitating side effects.

 

ACUTE LINE

Noun: A central venous catheter that is inserted into either a vein located under your collarbone in the neck or in the groin. The tip of the catheter is passed along the vein until it is positioned in a larger vein called the superior vena cava if under the collarbone or the inferior vena cava if placed in the groin. Both these sites return blood back to the heart. The Acute Line is made from polyurethane and is designed to stay in place for periods extending from one to six weeks. It is secured in position with two stitches that stay in place until the device is removed. Although there may be some anxiety about having this done, very little discomfort should be felt. (I found it about 1/4 the unpleasantness of the Bone Marrow trephine ). This is not a Hickman Line , but it is similar.

 

ACUTE MYELOGENOUS LEUKAEMIA

Noun: Myelogenous leukaemia that is marked by an abnormal increase in the number of myeloblasts especially in bone marrow and blood -- abbreviation AML; called also Acute Myeloblastic Leukaemia, Acute Myelocytic Leukaemia or Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

Latin - acutus = sharpen +

Greek - myelós = marrow +

English - genic = having to do with production +

Greek - leukós = white +

Greek - haîma = blood

 

ADRENAL CORTEX

Noun: The outer layer of the two small adrenal glands which are on the upper part of each kidney. This outer layer secretes a corticosteroid called corticosterone and other important hormones.

Latin - ad = near + renes = kidneys

Latin - cortex = bark

 

ALLOGENIC

Adjective: Genetically unlike. Unknown persons and family members can donate allogenic bone marrow . Bone marrow that is not your own.

Greek - àllos = other

Greek - genes = born or kind

 

ALLOGENIC RELATED

Adjective: Donated bone marrow from a family member especially a brother or sister. Genetically, it's not the same, but being related, many of the genetic points are held in common. If possible this is the best source of bone marrow transplant next to having an identical twins bone marrow.

Greek - àllos = other

Greek - genes = born or kind

 

ALLOGENIC UNRELATED

Adjective: Genetically unlike and not from a family member. Referring to bone marrow transplants, the bone marrow bank has lists of individuals who have donated bone marrow and when a bone marrow transplant is needed, the genetic similarities are compared using the Class 1 and Class 2 tissue typing with those on record at these banks and a match is made. There is a greater chance of getting Graft-Versus-Host disease when allogenic unrelated bone marrow is used.

Greek - àllos = other

Greek - genes = born or kind

 

AML

Noun: Abbreviation for " Acute Myeloblastic Leukaemia ". It is a form of leukaemia that is marked by an abnormal increase in the number of myeloblasts, especially in the bone marrow and blood.

 

AMPHOTERICIN

Noun: An antifungal antibiotic which is not absorbed by the gut so it must be injected. It is active against most deep-seated yeast and fungal infections. Diet advice given by the British Medical Association says that when given by injection, Amphotericin may reduce the levels of potassium and magnesium in the blood. To correct this, mineral supplements may be recommended. If taken while taking Cyclosporin ( an immunosuppressant drug used to handle AA & MDS ) there is an increased likelihood of kidney damage. Diet advice on Cyclosporin advises one to avoid high-potassium foods and potassium supplements so I can see a problem taking the two drugs at the same time. Inform your doctor immediately if you notice any pain in urinating or blood in the urine. Corticosteroids are also sometimes used in the treatment of AA & MDS and if taken with Amphotericin may increase the loss of potassium from the body. Common side-effects of amphotericin are fever, nausea, headache and vomiting.

Greek - amphóteros = both (yeast and fungi)

 

ANAEMIA

Noun: A weak condition caused by not enough red cells in the blood or by a loss of blood. It is characterised by pallor , palpitation of the heart, and a tendency to fatigue.

Greek - an = without +

Greek - haîma = blood

 

ANAPHYLAXIS

Noun: A rare, severe, frightening and possibly life threatening allergic reaction. It sometimes occurs in people who have an extreme sensitivity to a particular substance. Serum sickness, such as experienced by those taking Antilymphocyte Globulin, is an instance of relatively mild anaphylaxis. It can also occur as a reaction to an injected drug such as penicillin or a local anaesthetic. Some of the reactions include an itchy raised rash, constriction of the airways in the lungs, pain in the abdomen, swelling of the tongue or throat, and diarrhoea. If severe, it is called Anaphylactic Shock.

Greek - ana = back +

Greek - phylaxis = protection

 

ANC

Noun: an abbreviation for Absolute Neutrophil Count. Patients with Aplastic Anaemia and Myelodysplasia have a low ANC.

 

ANDROGEN

Noun: any male sex hormone, produced especially by the testes, that induces or strengthens masculine characteristics, such as a beard, large muscles, or a deep voice. These have sometimes been found to produce a response in Aplastic Anaemia but they have not improved survival in any trial.

Greek - andrôs = man

Greek - genês = born or something produced

 

ANTIBODY

Noun: A protein substance produced in the blood or tissues of animals or man that destroys or weakens bacteria or neutralises the poisons they produce. B-cells (one of the lymphocytes) manufacture a Y shaped protein called an " immunoglobulin " or "antibody". The antibody zeroes in on the antigen and attaches to the surface of the invading cell. The antibody then summons the " complement system" which is a group of proteins circulating in the bloodstream, to surround the invading cell and dissolve a hole in it. When the invader is destroyed, other white blood cells clean up the remains of the destroyed cell and the activity is ended.

* See Antigen for picture

Greek - anti = opposing +

German - körper = body or substance

 

ANTIBIOTIC

Noun: A substance such as penicillin, produced by certain bacteria and fungi, that prevent the growth of, or destroy, other bacteria.

Greek - anti = opposing +

Greek - bios = life

 

ANTIGEN

Noun: Antigens are any substance (usually a protein) whichthe body recognises as different from any natural body protein, such as viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some nonliving substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. Once the immune system recognises an antigen, it produces antibodies that destroy the substance.

Greek - anti = opposing +

Greek - genês = born or something produced

ANTILYMPHOCYTE GLOBULIN

Noun: An immunosuppressant which is used to reduce the body's natural immunity in patients who receive a bone marrow transplant or undergo treatment for Aplastic Anaemia It reduces the activity of the lymphocytes which are attacking bone marrow stem cells. ( See also Antithymocyte Globulin for more details. The two words are used to describe the same drug). At the Ruth Myles Unit at St. Georges Hospital the drug is normally called Antilymphocyte Globulin or ALG rather than Antithymocyte globulin.

Before Having This Treatment

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to horses or rabbits. Antilymphocyte globulin initially came from horse cells. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as preservatives.

Greek - anti = opposing +

Latin - lympha = clear water +

-cyte = a cell from Greek - kytos = anything hollow.

 

ANTITHYMOCYTE GLOBULIN

Noun: An immunosuppressant which is used to reduce the body's natural immunity in patients who receive a bone marrow transplant or undergo treatment for Aplastic Anaemia It reduces the activity of the T lymphocytes which are attacking bone marrow stem cells. I spoke to Dr. Marsh, who is doing research on AA & MDS with Professor Gordon Smith and she assures me that Antithymocyte Globulin is exactly the same as Antilymphocyte Globulin. Both names are used for the same product. A Thymocyte is a lymphocyte which is in the Thymus.

When a patient receives a bone marrow transplant , the white blood cells produced by the new stem cells in the bone marrow will try to get rid of (reject) the patients body. Antithymocyte globulin works by eliminating the white blood cells which are doing this.

Greek - anti = opposing +

Greek - thymos = a warty unnatural growth (referring to the thymus gland which is at the base of the neck and has been thought to have no function in adults) +

-cyte = a cell from Greek - kytos = anything hollow.

Before Having This Treatment

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to horses or rabbits. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any other substances, such as preservatives.

Precautions:

Treatment with antithymocyte globulin may also increase the chance of getting other infections. While in the hospital avoid people with colds or other infections. If you think you are getting a cold or other infection, check with your doctor. After treatment it is particularly important to avoid those with colds or other infections as you will not only have few neutrophils but the more aggressive T Lymphocytes will have been killed off by your treatment so you will be in a very fragile situation.

This treatment commonly causes fever, chills and shakes within a few hours after the first dose. These effects should be less after the second dose. However, check with your doctor or nurse immediately if you have chest pain, rapid or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath or wheezing, or swelling of the face or throat after any dose.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Because of the way that antithymocyte/antilymphocyte globulin acts on the body, there is a chance that it may cause effects that may not occur until years after the medicine is used. These delayed effects may include certain types of cancers. Discuss these possible effects with your doctor.

Because ATG/ALG causes water retention, you will be given a drug which will help you get your water levels down. If you notice your heart working harder, bloating or swelling, let the nurses know and they can sort this out.

Although not all of the following side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Black, tarry stools; bladder pain; chest pain; chills; cloudy or bloody urine; cold; confusion; cough or hoarseness; fast heartbeat; fever; flu-like symptoms; frequent urge to urinate; high blood pressure; irregular or slow heartbeat; lower back or side pain; numbness or tingling around lips, hands, or feet; painful or difficult urination; shortness of breath or troubled breathing; sore throat; sores, ulcers, swollen glands; tiredness or weakness; unexplained anxiety; unusual bleeding or bruising; weakness or heaviness of legs; abdominal pain; diarrhoea; dizziness; general feeling of discomfort or illness; headache; loss of strength or energy; muscle pain or weakness; nausea; pain; swelling of ankles, feet, and fingers; tightness in chest; unusual weak feeling; wheezing.

Less common

Burning or stinging of skin; painful cold sores or blisters on lips, nose, eyes, or genitals. White patches on mouth, tongue, or throat.

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if you notice any other effects.

 

APHERESIS UNIT

Noun: An apheresis unit is a machine for removing unwanted substances from the blood. Blood is withdrawn from the person in the same way as for a blood donation, and the blood is passed through a cell separator that removes the plasma (the fluid portion, which contains the antibodies ). The formed elements (blood cells) are reconstituted with a plasma substitute or with donated plasma. The reconstituted blood is then returned to the body as in a blood transfusion . This is a rapid procedure designed to quickly control symptoms. This same procedure is used to remove platelets from platelet donors' blood.

Greek - aphaíresis = a taking away

 

APLASIA

Noun: incomplete or defective growth and development of a bodily organ or part. In bone marrow "aplasia," the marrow cavity is empty of cells. See picture under Aplastic Anaemia.

Greek - a = not +

Greek - plésein = to form

 

APLASTIC

Adjective: 1. of or having to with aplasia ; characterised by aplasia. 2. characterised by or tending toward irregularity or absence of organic structure.

Greek - a = not +

Greek - plésein = to form

 

APLASTIC ANAEMIA

Noun: Aplastic Anaemia is a rare but extremely serious disorder that results when the bone marrow , the spongy interior of the bones, fails to producing red and white blood cells and platelets. As a result, the bone marrow contains large numbers of fat cells instead of the blood producing cells which would normally be present. Aplastic Anaemia is not a cancer, but because the disorder is treated like many cancers of the blood, most patients are seen at a cancer centre.

Here we see a sample of bone marrow in a patient with Aplastic Anaemia. Notice there are very few cells except for the fat cells.See Bone Marrow to compare this with the picture there.

The disease in most cases is acquired, that is, it is not inherited and is not present from birth, although there is a rare inherited form of the disease called Fanconi Anaemia .

Aplastic anaemia may be a consequence of use of high dose drugs and radiotherapy in treatment of cancer. There is usually prompt recovery when the drug or radiation treatment is stopped.

The disease may affect people of any age but there are peaks of incidence in young adults and in people over the age of 60 years.

In the remaining cases there is evidence of exposure to some factor which is known to cause damage to bone marrow stem cells. Aplastic anaemia may occur in pregnancy, but this is extremely rare. These cases usually resolve with the end of the pregnancy.

Certain diseases may, rarely, lead to aplastic anaemia. These include:

• viral hepatitis
• herpes and HIV
• disorders of the immune system
• blood disorders

In 50% of the people with aplastic anaemia, the cause is unknown. In other cases, the anaemia may be caused by

• aeroplane glue
• chemicals, such as benzene and pesticides
• chemotherapy
• drugs, such as chloramphenicol
• radiation therapy

Some experts believe that aplastic anaemia is an autoimmune disorder, a condition in which the body produces antibodies against its own blood cells. For this reason, drugs which kill off the white blood cells which are attacking the stem cells is often used to treat Aplastic Anaemia. It is called Immunosuppressive Therapy . Response rates using this treatment are currently 70% to 80%.

Any patient diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia should have rapid HLA tissue typing performed to identify possible marrow donors, says Rainer Storb, MD. Blood transfusions from prospective marrow donors should be avoided and all blood transfusions should be irradiated.

In the mid 1970's there is a report that only 20% of patients with severe aplastic anaemia who were treated with transfusions and antibiotics alone survived. Half of the deaths occurred within 4 months of diagnosis! I have found out that their main problem was that they were not given platelets which is not a problem today.

I had conversations with Professor Ted Gordon-Smith and Dr. Judith Marsh who are both experts in the field of Aplastic Anaemia working and doing research at the Ruth Myles Unit at St George's Hospital in London. Their preferred treatment for adults, especially those in their 40's and up is the Immunosuppressive therapy even if the patient has a complete bone marrow match with a brother or sister. There is more of a risk of getting GVHD in older patients. I was told that chances of the getting Myelodysplasia or Leukaemia after the immunosuppressive treatment was about 5%. Chances of getting PNH was 15% - 20% but PNH was not life threatening or particularly debilitating. If the Immunosuppressive therapy did not work out (there is a 70% to 80% success rate with it) it could be done again or a couple times more. If there were allergic reactions to the ALG, which sometimes happens, or the treatment just was not working, one could then go on to have a Bone Marrow Transplant which the Professor stated had improved chances of success with those who had undergone the Immunosuppressive therapy. If the Bone Marrow Transplant is done first, the stem cells are so depleted in the course of the Cyclophosphamide preparative regimen that should there be a graft rejection or reason for it not to work, the Immunosuppressive therapy would not be as successful as there would be less stem cells to work with. According to the EBMT and IBMTR of which Dr. Marsh is a Council member, children have success rates of 90% with the Bone Marrow Transplants. This decreases as one gets older. In Europe, she tells me they will not do a BMT on anyone over 40. The downside of this is that with Immunosuppressive Therapy alone, one never does get back to 100% and there is almost always an underlying abnormality with the cells. This must be monitored to watch for any cellular progression to MDS or Leukaemic conditions so it is picked up early. But even if it does progress to these, I was told that a new technology called a mini-graft is very successfull in bone marrow transplants on these diseases using a much lower dose of chemotherapy.

So once the diagnosis is complete, (in order to increase one's options) there is an urgency to:

•Ensure you get HLA tissue typed as soon as possible. This is a rare disease and your Dr. may not be aware of the urgency, or if under the NHS (National Health Service), be so busy, this does not get the priority it should have.

•If you have them, get your brothers and sisters HLA tissue typed to see if any match.

•If no brothers or sisters, to start looking for a potential donor so you have that as an option should you decide to go for a bone marrow transplant or if the immunosuppressive therapy is not successful. Keep in mind that this is much more risky than a BMT from a brother or sister. Also keep your age in mind as stated above. Read GVHD . See Haplo transplant .

•Discuss with your Dr. the pros & cons of the Immunosuppressive therapy with relation to the bone marrow transplant .

•Do everything possible to move things along keeping in mind that the chances of success of transplantation can be lowered by a prolonged interval between diagnosis and transplantation, or if the patient has received multiple blood transfusions or has experienced serious infections.

•Keep a record of Dr. visits, sick leave forms, correspondence with doctors and Social Security. A diary is also useful. Make applications for Disability Benefit and Incapacity Benefit if applicable.

Preventive Measures

There are measures patients with low white blood cell counts can take to limit the risk of developing an infection. See Clean Diet and Program 2: Increase Hygiene

• Avoid exposure to crowds or to people with colds or contagious diseases.
• Practice good hygiene, including frequent hand washing.
• Make a practice of taking your temperature if you are having a poorer day than normal. The reason might be due to some internal infection. Your body will tell you by raising it's temperature above 37.5°C in an effort to handle it. Contact your doctor if it is above 37.5°C , certainly if it is above 38°C.
• Brush teeth regularly, bathe or shower daily; and pay special attention to hard-to-clean areas such as skin folds and the rectal area.
• Avoid cuts and scrapes. Patients with AA who think they might get injured while at work or engaging in hobbies or sports activities, should ask their health care provider about ways to protect themselves.
• If you notice some infection such a cut that is inflamed, gum or tooth infection, or your temperature goes high (37.5° C +) report this to your doctor ASAP so he can evaluate your situation and give you the correct antibiotics if needed.
• If your neutrophil count is less than .3 (some doctors have said .5) you should be in an isolation ward when you are in the hospital. Therefore it makes sense that when you leave the hospital and go home you should treat your home as an isolation ward as well. The soil and plants inside your house and outside are a source of the fungus aspergillus which grows in decaying vegetation. Get rid of plants and fresh flowers in your house and limit your time outside as the aspergillus spores are usually present in the air all year round.
• Showers should be run hot for at least 5 minutes each week if not normally used to eliminate bacterial growth in them and grouting around shower kept clean to prevent mould.
• Kitchen and bathroom sinks and bath tubs should be cleaned with soap and water or a disinfectant and dried thoroughly after each use.
• Use liquid soap in the bathroom. The bars of soap often remain wet and are a breeding place for dangerous bacteria.

Some infections can be prevented and almost all infections can be treated. People with aplastic anaemia should be a full partner with the health care team by taking care of themselves and reporting any problems they may have.

Low Platelet Count

Another type of blood cell affected by the AA patient are the platelets . Platelets help the blood to clot. If platelets are deficient, patients may develop bruises, may bleed easier than usual, or have trouble stopping the bleeding. For example, patients might notice blood on their toothbrush from bleeding gums or might develop nosebleeds. Women may experience heavy menstrual periods. Some people get tiny, red spots on their skin, especially on the arms or legs. These are called petechiae . Blood in the urine and stool sometimes occurs.

Symptoms and Treatment

Symptoms you should report to your doctor or hospital immediately include:

• Unusually heavy or prolonged bleeding anywhere
• Severe headache or visual changes
• Stiff neck

Doctors may order a platelet transfusion when the platelet count is low or to prevent or stop excessive bleeding. For this treatment, platelets usually are given through a needle inserted into a vein. Patients receive transfusions during an outpatient visit to the hospital, usually lasting several hours.

Preventive Measures

Safety measures to take include.

• Avoid activities that can result in bruising or bumping.
• Put off the use of sharp instruments such as tools, nail trimmers, razors or knives.
• Wear hard-sole shoes, gloves, or thick pants.
• Ask health care providers about the use of special sponge toothbrushes for people who have problems with gum bleeding. Use them if it is recommended.
• Some medications can affect clotting ability. It is important to avoid medications that contain aspirin or aspirin-like products (for example, Motrin, ibuprofen, or other anti-inflammatory drugs) unless the doctor has instructed otherwise as these reduce platelet count. Ibruprofen and others may also cause bleeding in the stomach which can be serious if your platelet levels are very low.
• Remember to report any signs that platelet counts might be low, such as easy bruising, nose or gum bleeding, blood in urine or petechiae (tiny red spots on arms or legs).

Low Red Blood Cell Count

The red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of the body. When red blood cells are not being produced as is the case in Aplastic Anaemia, transfusions will be required until the condition is handled.

Symptoms and Treatment

Without enough oxygen, patients may feel short of breath or feel their heart is pounding very fast. As a result, people with AA may feel tired and look pale. If these side effects are severe, inform your doctor right away. Transfusions of red blood cells may be prescribed to help these symptoms. Red cell transfusions are matched by blood types. First, a sample of the patient's blood is sent to the blood bank to identify its types: A, B, O, AB. Each type is either Rh positive or negative. This is called "typing the blood." A small sample of the donor blood is then matched to the blood type. A transfusion of only red blood cells, called a "unit" of packed RBCs (red blood cells), is given to the patient through a needle in the arm. Transfused blood should be leucocyte depleted and irradiated.

Preventative Measures

• It may be beneficial to sleep more and rest between activities so the body can conserve energy.
• Light exercise such as walking may give you more energy.
• Spend energy on accomplishing important tasks.

AA patients who need dental work should discuss this with their doctor. Infection and/or bleeding could be problems if dental work is done when blood counts are low. You may need to be topped up with red blood and platelets if a tooth has to be pulled. Your doctor may want to see you after the dental work for a blood test in case of a dental infection getting into the blood system.

It has been stated in many medical reports on AA & MDS that there is a possibility of the graft being rejected if a large number of transfusions are received prior to the BMT. The transfused blood and platelets may be recognised as antigens by the new white cells being produced by the donors stem cells resulting in GVHD. According to Professor Gordon-Smith and Dr. Judith Marsh this risk has been drastically reduced recently with modern technology. The problem was that white blood cells were in the transfused blood causing reactions. Transfused blood today has been effectively filtered to remove all white blood cells which might cause this problem. However, many red blood transfusions can cause another problem called Haemosiderosis .

Aplastic anaemia patients who do not receive a bone marrow transplant continue to have an underlying abnormality in the bone marrow and may go on to develop myelodysplasia or a disease called Paroxysmal nocturnal haemogloburinaemia . Both of these can progress to leukaemia .

Greek - a = not + plássein = to form

Greek - an = without + heîma = blood

 

APHTHOUS ULCERS

Noun: Aphthous ulcers are very common. Typically, they are a small shallow ulcer with a white or whitish/yellow base surrounded by a reddish border occurring on the inside of the mouth. Most causes of aphthous ulcers are unknown but can occur if your immune system is low. Tell your Doctor about them as there are drugs which have been used successfully to relieve the pain caused by them.

Greek - áptha = to inflame

 

ASPERGILLOSIS

Noun: An infection caused by aspergillus, a fungus which grows in decaying vegetation. The spores of this fungus are usually present in the air all the year round. Aspergillus is harmless to healthy people but causes trouble in certain circumstances. It may cause serious and often fatal infection in people with reduced resistance, such as those being treated by anticancer drugs for leukaemia ( Cyclophosphamide ) or by immunosuppressant drugs such as ALG / ATG or Cyclosporin .

Latin - aspergillus = to sprinkle (the fungus looks like a microscopic version of the brushes used for sprinkling holy water which were called aspergilla).

 

ASPIRATE

Noun: An aspirate is a small volume of bone marrow which is removed under local anaesthetic from either the hip bone or the breast bone by suction. The cells in the sample can then be examined under the microscope to identify any abnormality in the developing blood cells.

Verb: The action of doing this.

Latin - ad = toward + spirare = to breathe

 

ATG

Noun: An abbreviation of Antithymocyte globulin .

 

AUTOIMMUNE

Adjective: Of, having to do with, or caused by antibodies which are attacking one's own body. It is thought by some experts that Aplastic Anaemia is an autoimmune disease.

Greek - autós = self +

Latin - immunis = not obliging

 

AUTOLOGOUS

Adjective: Transplanted from the same person's body such as an autologous graft. Some cancer patients who are to get radiation treatment will have a quantity of their bone marrow taken out for future transplanting back in again. The radiation kills off the stem cells and as their own bone marrow is put back in there is no problem with graft-versus-host disease .

Greek - autós = self +

Greek - lógos = relation

 

AVASCULAR NECROSIS

Noun: Death of bone owing to deficient blood supply, usually following an injury but it can also occur in cases of severe anaemia.

Greek - a = not, without, or lacking +

Latin - vascularis = vessel (in this case, as in blood vessel) +

Greek - nékros = dead body

 

AZITHROMYCIN

Noun: Azithromycin is a drug used to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. It can be used to treat infections of the throat, types of pneumonia, influenza and skin infections.

Medical tests show it adversely interacts with cyclosporine and antacids. It can cause a severe allergic reaction with symptoms such as severe breathing difficulties, rapid pulse, profuse sweating, and collapse. Inform your Doctor if you have any adverse reactions to this drug.