Glossary
Adenovirus: A virus that causes respiratory infections.Anemia: This is a condition that develops when the blood lacks healthy red blood cells (RBC) or hemoglobin, which is responsible for transporting oxygen in the body.
C-Reactive Protein (CRP): It is an acute phase protein (i.e. its levels rise in response to inflammation) produced in the liver and is a biomarker for inflammation.
Complete Blood Count (CBC): It is a blood test used to evaluate the overall health of a person and detects a wide range of disorders, including anemia, infection and certain types of blood cancer.
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR): It is the rate at which RBC sediment in a period of one hour. It is a common blood test, and is a non-specific measure of inflammation.
Fibromyalgia: A chronic disease exhibiting a variety of symptoms, including widespread muscle and joint pain, stiffness and fatigue. Diagnosis can be difficult, while treatment focuses on managing the condition through exercise, rest and stress reduction.
Giant cell arteritis (GCA): This is also known as temporal arteritis, and is an inflammatory disease of blood vessels most commonly involving large and medium arteries of the head, predominantly the branches of the external carotid artery.
Haplotype: A set of genetic determinants located on a single chromosome.
Human parainfluenza virus: A virus that causes flu-like symptoms.
Human parvovirus B19: A virus that causes rashes in children.
Osteoarthritis: A chronic degenerative disease that causes the breakdown of cartilage in the joints, resulting in pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Polymyositis: An inflammatory disease that causes muscle weakness primarily affecting the shoulders, upper arms, pelvis and thighs. The hands, feet and face are not usually affected.
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Rheumatoid arthritis: A chronic disease that causes inflammation and deformity of the joints resulting in severe joint pain and swelling.
Temporal arteritis: Another name for giant cell arteritis. It causes inflammation of the arteries of the temples at either side of the head.
Autoimmunity: Condition where the body’s immune cells attack the persons own tissue causing damage and disease.
