Glossary
Autoimmune disorder: A disease that results when the immune system attacks the body's own tissues, as in rheumatoid arthritis.Bone Marrow Biopsy: The removal of a sample of tissue from the bone marrow with a needle for examination under a microscope.
Complete blood count: Standard set of measurements of the white blood cells and red blood cells.
Crohn's Disease: Chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly the bowel. Crohn's disease increases risk for colon cancer.
Gastric atrophy: A condition in which the stomach muscles shrink and become weak. It results in a lack of digestive juices.
Intrinsic factor: A substance found in the gastric juices that allows vitamin B12 to be absorbed.
Lactate dehydrogenase: Group of isoenzymes that catalyze reversibly the conversion of pyruvic acid to lactic acid.
Pernicious Anemia: A type of anemia (low red blood cell count) caused by the body's inability to absorb vitamin B12.
Reticulocyte: An immature red blood cell.
