A
Acute: of short and sharp course; not chronic

Alopecia: loss of hair

ALT (alanine aminotranferase): an enzyme in liver cells. Elevated levels of this enzyme indicate liver cell damage.

Anemia: a condition characterized by low hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in reduced oxygen supply to tissues

Anorexia: loss of appetite

Antibodies: substances produced by the body in response to a foreign substance, like disease viruses and bacteria

Antipyretics: medicines that reduce fever

Antiviral: having the capacity to kill viruses

Arthralgia: joint pain

Ascites: accumulation of fluids in the abdominal cavity

B
Biopsy: removal of tissue for diagnostic examination

C
Chronic: of long duration

Cirrhosis: progressive disease of the liver characterized by damage to liver cells and liver architecture. Affects blood flow within the liver as well as liver function

Contagious: transmissible through contact with the sick

Cytotoxic: destructive to cells

D
Diluent: an agent that dilutes, or weakens the strength of a solution

E
Embryocidal: able to cause death of an embryo

Encephalopathy: disease of the brain

Endogenous: originating within the body

Endoscopy: examination of the interior of a canal or hollow organ of the body

Eradicate: eliminate

F
Fibrosis: formation of fibrous (scar-like) tissue

Fulminant: occurring with lightning-like speed

G
Genotype: the genetic constitution of an individual

H
HbsAg: the hepatitis B surface antigen test. If positive, it indicates acute or chronic hepatitis B infection, carrier-status

Hemodialysis: separation/cleansing of blood

Hepatic: relating to the liver

Hepatocellular: relating to liver cells

Histologic: relating to the minute structure of cells and their components

Hydrated: taking in enough water

I
Immunity: freedom from the possibility of acquiring a given infectious disease

Immunomodulating: capable of altering immunity

Insomnia: inability to sleep

Interferon: protein released by white blood cells (and other cell types) in response to viruses; not directly antiviral, but causes biochemical changes within cells that lead to viral resistance

Interferon alfa-2b: a specific type of commercially available interferon. The drug name is INTRON® A (Interferon alfa-2b, recombinant) for Injection.

J
Jaundice: yellow-staining of some tissues, such as the whites of eyes; an uncommon symptom of hepatitis

L
Lymphocytes: white blood cells formed in lymph tissue

M
Monotherapy: therapy with one drug or agent

Myalgia: muscle pain

N
Necrosis: death of cells, tissues, parts of or whole organs

P
PCR: polymerase chain reaction test. Designed to look at hepatitis viral material

Periportal: surrounding the portal vein (in the liver)

Phagocytic: pertaining to phagocytes, or scavenger cells that ingest bacteria

R
Recombinant: made up from different strains or chromosomal parts

Refractory: not readily yielding to treatment

Relapse: the return of a disease after seeming to resolve

Remission: an abatement or lessening of disease progression and/or symptoms

Ribavirin: an antiviral medicine

S
Seroconvert: change in serum constituents such that prior negative test results are now positive

Serum: a clear, watery fluid, such as that exuded from inflamed tissues

Subcutaneous: beneath the skin

Somnolence: sleepiness

Synthesize: putting together, arranging, or forming compounds from different sources

T
Teratogenic: able to cause defects in normal development, as in birth defects

V
Variceal: pertaining to an enlarged vein, artery, or lymphatic vessel

Virus: an agent of infectious disease capable of growth only by entering and reproducing within living cells