Glossary
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | L | M | N | P | Q | R | S | T | VAlanine aminotransferase (ALT): An enzyme produced in liver cells that leaks out into the blood when liver damage occurs.
Alpha interferon: A protein produced by the immune system in response to foreign agents such as viruses, parasites and tumor cells. Alpha interferons help protect healthy cells from attack by viruses.
Amino acids: The building blocks of proteins.
Anemia: A shortage of red blood cells or hemoglobin or total blood volume.
Antibody: A protective substance produced by the body in response to attack by bacteria, viruses, or other parasites.
Antiviral: Weakening or opposing the action of a virus.
Ascites: Buildup of fluid in the peritoneal cavity.
Autoimmune: Arising from and attacking one's own body tissues.
Autoimmune hepatitis: Form of hepatitis in which cells from one's own immune system attack the liver.
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Biopsy:
Procedure in which a small piece of tissue is removed from a living patient for
examination.
Biotherapy:
(Also known as biologic therapy) Therapy that involves giving synthetic forms
of natural substances produced in the body to treat disease.
Bloodborne:
Carried through or in the blood.
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Chronic: Lasting a long time; used to describe a disease that progresses slowly and continues for a long time.
Cirrhosis: Liver disease that involves scarring and damage of the liver cells and interruption of blood flow through the liver.
Clotting factor: An essential part of the blood that is responsible for clotting.
Combination therapy: Treatment that involves giving more than one drug or agent.
Compensated liver disease: Liver disease in which the liver is damaged but still functioning.
Contraindication: A condition in which a drug should not be used.
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Decompensated liver disease: Liver disease in which the liver is damaged and not functioning normally.
Detoxification: Removal of poisonous substances.
Diagnostic Tests: Tests used to identify a disease.
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ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: A blood test used to detect antibodies or antigen.
End-stage liver disease: Disease in which the liver has minimal function. The only treatment for end-stage liver disease is liver transplantation.
Enzyme: A protein in the body that helps a biological process go faster.
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False negative: A test result that indicates that a person does not have a condition when in fact he or she does.
False positive: A test result that indicates that a person has a condition when in fact he or she does not.
Fibrosis: Formation of scar tissue in response to injury.
Fluctuating: Not remaining at one level.
Fulminant hepatitis: Severe, rapidly progressive loss of liver function.
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Gastroenterologist: A doctor who specializes in diseases of the stomach and intestines.
Genotype: The genetic makeup of an organism.
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Half-life: The amount of time required for a substance to be reduced to one-half of its previous level.
Hemodialysis: A process of removing blood from an artery, purifying it, and returning it to the body.
Hemoglobin: A protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs.
Hemophiliac: A person who does not produce all of the proteins necessary for clotting blood.
Hepatic encephalopathy: Abnormal brain function caused by passage of toxic substances from the liver to the blood.
Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver.
Hepatitus: Common misspelling for "hepatitis", please see hepatitis.
Hepititis: Common misspelling for "hepatitis", please see hepatitis.
Hepititus: Common misspelling for "hepatitis", please see hepatitis.
Hepatocellular carcinoma: A type of liver cell cancer.
Hepatologist: A doctor who specializes in diseases of the liver.
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Incidence: The number of new cases of a disease occurring in a population over a specific period of time.
Inflammation: A response to injury that involves swelling, redness, heat, and pain that serves to rid the body of a toxic substance or damaged tissue.
Interferon: A protein produced by the immune system in response to foreign agents such as viruses, parasites and tumor cells. Alpha interferons help protect healthy cells from attack by viruses.
Ischemic: Insufficient blood flow and oxygen to the body tissues.
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Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin or eyes.
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Liver: A vital organ responsible for manufacturing various proteins, purification of the blood, and processing drugs and other chemicals into harmless substances.
Liver biopsy: A procedure in which a small portion of liver tissue is removed to identify liver disease.
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Microgram: One thousandth of a gram.
Monotherapy: Treatment that involves only one drug.
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Nucleoside analogs: Molecules that are similar to the building blocks of DNA and RNA.
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PEG: Abbreviation for polyethylene glycol.
Pegylated: Attached to a molecule of polyethylene glycol.
Pegylation: The process of attaching a polyethylene glycol molecule.
Polyethylene glycol: A large water-soluble molecule that when attached to another molecule increases its lifetime in the body.
Prevalence: The number of cases of a disease existing in a population at a specific point in time or specific period of time.
Progression (of a disease): Becoming more advanced, severe, or worse.
Promiscuity: Not restricted to one sexual partner.
Protocol: A precise and detailed plan for a therapy regimen.
Psoriasis: A skin disorder that involves a scaly rash.
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Qualitative: Relating to quality or kind.
Quantitative: Can be expressed as a number or quantity.
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Recombinant: Made up of pieces of DNA from different species of an organism
Relapse: Reappearance of a disease after a period of improvement.
RIBA: Recombinant immunoblot assay: A blood test that tests for antibodies to a given substance (for example, virus particles).
Ribavirin: Name of a drug similar to the building blocks of DNA that has activity against viruses.
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Sustained viral response (SVR): The inability to detect genetic material from the hepatitis C virus for at least 24 weeks after hepatitis C therapy is completed. A very sensitive gene-based test, called a PCR (polymerase chain reaction), is used for this purpose.
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Transfusion: Transfer of blood.
Transplantation: Transfer of an organ from one person to another.
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Viral load: The amount of a given virus in the blood. The hepatitis C viral load is usually expressed as copies per milliliter or units per milliliter.
Virus: A microscopic organism that relies on the genetic machinery of living cells to grow and reproduce.
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