Glossary

Alanine 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 a viral infection. 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 abdominal 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.

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.

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.

Coagulation: 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 normally.

Contraindication: A condition in which a drug should not be used.

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.

ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: A blood test used to detect antibodies to a foreign substance (for example, a virus).

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.

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.

Fatigue: Tiredness.

Fibrosis: Formation of scar tissue in response to injury.

Fluctuating: Not remaining at one level.

Fulminant hepatitis: A severe form of hepatitis involving death of liver cells and often liver failure.

Gastroenterologist: A doctor who specializes in diseases of the stomach and intestines.

Genotype: The genetic makeup of an organism.

Half-life: The time required for half the amount of a drug to be eliminated from the body.

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.

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 attack by a virus that helps protect other healthy cells from attack.

Ischemic: Insufficient blood flow and oxygen to the body tissues.

Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin or eyes.

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.

Microgram: One thousandth of a gram.

Monotherapy: Treatment that involves only one drug.

Myalgia: Muscle pain.

Nucleoside analogs: Molecules that are similar to the building blocks of DNA and RNA.

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.

Prophylactic: Preventive.

Protocol: A precise and detailed plan for a therapy regimen.

Psoriasis: A skin disorder that involves a scaly rash.

Qualitative: Relating to quality or kind.

Quantitative: Can be expressed as a number or quantity.

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.

Subcutaneous: Under the skin.

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.

Transfusion: Transfer of blood.

Transplantation: Transfer of an organ from one person to another.

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.

To get started, please choose one of the following:   I have been diagnosed with hepatitis C, but haven't started treatment yet I am on treatment for hepatitis C     * Note: If you or someone you know may be at risk for hepatitis C, please visit www.peg-intron.com See Instructions   Select one of the choices above and click "Next"

What features would you like to see online in the future? Interactive Diary Therapy Calendar (that allows you to schedule and record your appointments) Newsletters archive Access the Be In Charge Directory, that is, to people who have completed treatment Your local weather information