|
A
| B
| C
| D
| E
| F
| G
| H
| I
| J
K | L
| M
| N
| O
| P
Q | R
| S
| T
| U
| V
| W
| X
Y Z
HCT: See
Hematocrit
Hematocrit (HCT): A blood test the tells the percentage
of red blood cells in the blood.
Hematologist: A doctor who specializes in the study of
diseases of the blood.
Hematology: A medical specialty that focuses on
diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs.
Hematopoiesis: The process where blood cells are
produced, mature and become specific types of blood cells.
Hematopoietic Stem
Cells: Blood forming stem cells
capable of producing all the components of blood and marrow.
These cells are capable of both replacing themselves and
maturing to white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
Hematuria: Blood in the urine.
Hemoglobin: The material in red blood cells that
carries oxygen.
Hemorrhagic
Cystitis: A condition where the bladder
tissue is ulcerated, usually due to infection or the toxic
effects of certain types of chemotherapy.
Hepafilters: Air filters that remove very small
particles, including bacterial or fungal agents but not
viruses, from the air.
Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver. It may be caused
by a variety of reasons, including viral infections, bacterial
invasion and physical or chemical agents.
Hepatitis
B: A type of hepatitis that is carried
and passed on through the blood.
Heredity or
Hereditary: Qualities or traits transferred
through the genes from one generation to another.
Herpes Simplex: A viral infection that usually produces
small, temporary, irritating and sometimes painful
fluid-filled blisters on the skin and mucous membranes. Herpes
simplex type I is responsible for cold sores most often on the
lips or in the mouth while type II is responsible for genital
(most often) sores.
Herpes Zoster: A virus, otherwise known as the
chickenpox virus. When it recurs on a strip of skin in an
adolescent or adult it is sometimes called shingles. The virus – previously dormant in a nerve root along side the spinal
cord – inflames nerves and results in painful skin eruptions
that follow the route of these underlying nerves.
Histocompatibility: The state of similarity between
tissues of the donor and the patient (recipient). The level of
histocompatability describes how well a patient and donor are
matched. The major histocompatability determinants in humans
are called human leukocyte antigens (HLA). The closer the
match, the less likely the donated stem cells and the
patient's body will react against each other (see GVHD.)
HLA:
See Human Leukocyte Antigens
HLA Typing:The process used to determine a person's
HLA.
Hodgkin’s
Disease: A type of
cancer that affects
the lymph nodes which are a part of our body’s immune
system. Hodgkin's disease is a type of
lymphoma. This cancer occurs most frequently in young adults.
Hospice: A community organization of nurses,
pharmacists and physicians that provides supportive care to
meet the special needs of dying patients and their families.
HTLV: See Human
T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus
Human Leukocyte Antigens
(HLA): A series of antigens
found on white blood cells and most other cells of the body
that are used to determine tissue type. Your HLA allows your
immune system to recognize self from non-self. When these
proteins are the same for both donor and recipient, an
allogeneic stem cell transplant is much more likely to be
successful. In stem cell transplantation, the HLA antigens
routinely typed for are HLA-A, B, and DR.
Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus
(HTLV): A rare virus
transmitted by cellular components of blood. Two forms of the
virus have been identified, HTLV-I and HTLV-II. These viruses
can be associated with liver disease and in some populations,
an aggressive form of leukemia or lymphoma.
Hyperplasia: Excessive growth of normal cells, which
increases the size of an organ. In some cases hyperplasia can
become malignant or cancerous.
|
