Glossary

The state-of-the-art glossary for Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia.

Glossary for Waldenström's macroglobulinemia

The aim of the glossary is to provide a concise definition for the medical terms used on waldenstroms.info to assist users in reading the information made available on this site. The definitions contained herein should not be considered complete or exhaustive. Users are encouraged to consult the sources cited in the glossary and other reliable sources for further information.

Acalabrutinib

A second generation Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi)

Adenopathy

Disease or inflammation involving glandular tissue, especially involving lymph nodes.

Albumin

A family of globular proteins, the most common being the serum albumins.

Anemia

A lack of sufficient healthy erythrocytes or hemoglobin to carry adequate oxygen to bodily tissues.

B-cells

B-cells (B-lymphocytes) – A type of leucocyte (white blood cell) of the lymphocyte subtype, which function in the humoral immunity component of the adaptive immune system by secreting antibodies.

Bendamustine

An alkylating agent (chemotherapy)

Bortezomib

Bortezomib is a proteosome inhibitor.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK)

Is a non-receptor kinase that plays a crucial role in oncogenic signaling that is critical for proliferation and survival of leukemic cells in many B-cell malignancies.

CD20

An antigen expressed on the surface of B-cells

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD)

A rare hematological condition in which the immune system destroys erythrocytes.

Comorbidities

The presence of one or more additional conditions co-occurring with a primary condition.

Constitutional symptoms

A group of nonspecific symptoms (such as appetite loss, weight loss, headache and fevers) that can affect several different bodily systems.

Cryoglobulinemia

In cryoglobulinemia, abnormal blood proteins called cryoglobulins clump together at cold temperatures.

CT

CT (computerized tomography) scan – A medical imaging technique which utilizes computer-processed combinations of multiple X-ray measurements taken from different angles to produce tomographic images of the body.

Cyclophosphamide

An immunosuppressive alkylating agent (chemotherapy).

Cytopenia

Reduced number of mature blood cells.

Dexamethasone

Dexamethasone is a glucocorticoid medication.

Fibrillation

The most common type of heart arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) that can interrupt normal blood flow.

Hepatomegaly

Hepatomegaly is abnormal enlargement of the liver.

Hypertension

High blood pressure.

Hyperviscosity

Increased blood viscosity, leading to reduced blood flow.

Ibrutinib

A small molecule inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase

IgM

The largest of several types of immunoglobulin (antibody) produced by vertebrates. The first antibody produced in response to initial antigen exposure.

Immunochemotherapy

The treatment and management of disease by combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy

LDH

LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), an enzyme found in nearly all living cells. LDH catalyzes the reversible conversion of lactate to pyruvate.

Lymphadenopathy

Lymphadenopathy or adenopathy is a disease of the lymph nodes, in which they are abnormal in size or consistency.

M-protein

An abnormal antibody (immunoglobulin) or fragment thereof, produced in excess by abnormal monoclonal proliferation of plasma cells.

MAG antibodies

MAG antibodies (myelin-associated glycoprotein antibodies) – Frequently associated with, and contribute directly to, the pathogenesis of peripheral neuropathies. These autoantibodies frequently occur with IgM paraproteinemia.

MYD88

MYD88 (myeloid differentiation factor 88) is a driver gene found in hematologic B-cell malignancies.

Neuropathy

Disease or dysfunction of one or more nerves, typically causing pain, numbness or weakness.

Nucleoside analogues

Synthetic, chemically modified nucleosides that mimic their physiological counterparts (endogenous nucleosides) and block cellular division or viral replication by impairing DNA/RNA synthesis or by inhibition of cellular or viral enzymes involved in nucleoside/tide metabolism.

Paraprotein

An abnormal protein produced by plasma cells in the bone marrow

PCR

PCR (polymerase chain reaction) – A technology used to amplify fragments of DNA exponentially.

PET imaging

PET imaging (positron emission tomography) – A functional imaging technique which utilizes radiotracers (radioactive substances) used to visualize and measure changes in metabolic processes, and in other physiological activities including blood flow, regional chemical composition, and absorption.