Anticoagulant drugs: Medications used to stop blood clots
from getting bigger and to keep new clots from forming;
sometimes called blood thinners. Where to
find more information:
http://www.apsfa.org/docs/Anticoagulants062706-f.pdf
Antithrombin III: A protein found in our bloodstream.
It controls our clotting mechanism and prevents us from
excessive clotting. It functions as a naturally occurring mild
blood thinner by blocking the last part of our clotting
mechanism and inactivates the clotting protein thrombin (=
factor IIa); thus, it is called anti-thrombin.
Antithrombin III Deficiency (AT-III): AT-III deficiency
is a disorder that increases the risk for blood clots. It can be
(a) acquired, or (b) inherited, or (c) based on a
misinterpretation of lab tests (values can be temporarily low at
the time of the acute clot or during heparin therapy).
CDC: Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Is a government health care agency whose mission focuses on the
prevention and treatment of disease. It is located in Atlanta ,
GA. Where to find more information:
http://www.cdc.gov
Collateral: A smaller vein that provides an alternate path
for blood to go around the place blocked by a clot.
Coumadin®: A brand name for warfarin, an
anticoagulation medicine. Where to
find more information:
http://www.coumadin.com/
Factor V
deficiency: An inherited bleeding disorder, in which
the clotting factor V (five) is low. The disorder is very rare,
occurring in only one in 1 million people. This is not the same
clinical problem as Factor V Leiden. Where to
find more information:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000550.htm
FVL: Factor V Leiden. An inherited blood clotting disorder.
Five percent of Caucasian Americans have it, 1.2 % of
Afro-Americans. One can be heterozygous (i.e. have one bad
gene), homozygous ( i.e. have 2 bad genes) or normal (i.e. not
have any bad genes). The genetic test for factor V Leiden has
only been available since 1994. Where to find more information:
http://www.fvleiden.org/
Homocysteine:
An amino acid found in the blood. High homocysteine
levels are a risk factor for blood clots in the veins (DVT, PE)
or arteries (heart attack, stroke), and hardening of the
arteries (arteriosclerosis). Where to
find more information:
http://www.medicinenet.com/homocysteine/article.htm
Homocystinuria: A rare hereditary disease that causes a deficiency of
an enzyme needed to prevent the build up of homocysteine in the
blood. Where to
find more information:
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic708.htm
Homozygous: Having 2 abnormal genes. If you are
homozygote (2 bad genes) for Factor V Leiden, you inherited the
gene from both parents.
Hughes Syndrome: UK name
for Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. Where to find more
information: http://www.apsfa.org
Hx:
History.
Hyperhomocysteinemia: A condition where elevated
homocysteine levels are present in the blood which may damage
the lining of blood vessels, and lead to the formation of blood
clots. Where to
find more information:
http://www-admin.med.uiuc.edu/hematology/PtHomocysteinemia.htm
IVIG:Intravenous Immune Globulin. Intravenous immunoglobulin
(IVIG) is a medication made from grouped donated blood plasma
that is used to reduce the risk of infection in people with
weakened or impaired immune systems. IVIG contains antibodies to
fight bacteria, fungi, and viruses that can cause disease. IVIG
can be used as a replacement therapy for people who have too few
antibodies to effectively fight infections. For example, IVIG
may be used in babies born prematurely who are at risk of
complications from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.
It can also be used as treatment for immune system problems,
such as for those that exist at birth (congenital
immunodeficiency). Because immunoglobulin is made from donated
blood, it is sometimes in short supply. It is also very
expensive. Where to find more information:
http://www.apsfa.org/docs/APS-ivig2.pdf
INR: International Normalized Ratio.
INR is a ratio that
helps physicians monitor patients taking anticoagulant
medications. The INR is a method of expressing the results of a
prothrombin time (PT) blood test.
It is based on an international standard that automatically
corrects for variations between labs. Thus, using the INR, the
PT measurement from one lab can be compared to a PT measurement
from any other lab in the world, even if they use different
methods to measure PT. The resulting measurement is often
referred to as the INR/PT. Where to find more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_normalized_ratio
LMWH: Low
Molecular Weight Heparin. An
injectable form of heparin (a Heparin blood
thinner) that is given underneath the skin (= subcutaneously,
s.c.). The brand names are Lovenox®, Fragmin®, Innohep®, and
others). It is used as an alternative to Coumadin® for dental
work and pregnancy. LMWH may be prescribed any time you need to
be anti-coagulated but can't take Coumadin®. Where to
find more information:
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Low-molecular-weight-heparins-for-deep-vein-thrombosis
Lytic therapy: A clot
busting medication given in the hospital into the blood vessel
to break up clots. Has a risk of bleeding. Drug names are tPA,
streptokinase, or urokinase.
MicroClotting:
Simply put, micro-clotting, better referred to as "microvascular
thrombosis"' describes blood clotting that is occurring in some
of the smallest blood vessels in the body. Where to find more
information:
http://www.apsfa.org/docs/APSFAVol4Winter2007.pdf
MTHFR:
Stands for
Methylene- Tetra- Hydro- Folate- Reductase. Some individuals with the homozygous MTHFR mutation
have elevated homocysteine levels. Elevated homocysteine levels
are a risk factor for blood clots. The individuals with MTHFR
mutations who have normal homocysteine levels are not at
increased risk for clots. Thus, the MTHFR mutation by itself is
not a clotting disorder. Where to
find more information:
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene=mthfr
Multi-infarct (arteriosclerotic) dementia:
There is deterioration in previously normal intellect and / or
memory due to repeated clinical or subclinical episodes of
cerebral ischemia, infarction or hemorrhage. Where to find more
information:
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3150.htm
Myocardial Infarction: Known as a
heart attack. Myocardium = heart muscle; infarct
= cell death caused by blocked blood flow; thus, death of
an area of heart muscle. Where to
find more information:
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic327.htm
PFO:
Patent Foramen Ovale. A
patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a defect in the septum (wall)
between the two upper (atrial) chambers of the heart.
Specifically, the defect is an incomplete closure of the atrial
septum that results in the creation of a flap or a valve-like
opening in the atrial septal wall (see illustration). A PFO is
frequent in everyone before birth but seals shut in about 80% of
people. Where to find more information:
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3400/3454.asp?index=11626
Platelets:
Small
particles in the blood that control bleeding; they form clusters
to plug small holes in blood vessels and assist in the clotting
process. Where to
find more information:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003647.htm
Protein
C deficiency: Protein C
deficiency is an uncommon clotting disorder: approximately 1 per
700 people has inherited protein C deficiency. Since we all have
2 genes for every protein (one from mother and one from father),
people can have 2 normal genes (healthy), one mutated protein S
gene (heterozygous), or two mutated genes (homozygous).
Individuals with protein C deficiency are typically heterozygous.
Homozygous individuals have such a severe clotting problem, that
they typically die immediately after birth because of clotting
everywhere; this is termed " Purpura fulminans ".
Protein C deficiency can be caused by more than 100 different
mutations in theprotein C gene.
This makes genetic testing for the defect very difficult, time-consuming,
and expensive; it is therefore not done in routine clinical
practice. A few academic institutions with a special interest in
protein C deficiency perform genetic testing for research
purposes. In some people protein C deficiency is due to acquired
(non-inherited) causes, and may be temporary. Where to
find more information:
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic1923.htm
Protein S
deficiency: Protein S
deficiency is an uncommon clotting disorder: approximately 1 per
500 to 1 per 3,000 people has inherited protein S deficiency.
Since we all have 2 genes for every protein (one from mother and
one from father), people can have 2 normal genes (healthy), one
mutated protein S gene (heterozygous), or two mutated genes
(homozygous). Individuals with protein S deficiency are
typically heterozygous. Homozygous individuals have such a
severe clotting problem, that they typically die immediately
after birth because of clotting everywhere; this is termed "Purpura
fulminans."
Protein S
deficiency can be caused by more than 100 different mutations in
the protein S gene. This makes genetic testing for the defect
very difficult, time-consuming, and expensive; it is therefore
not done in routine clinical practice. A few academic
institutions with a special interest in protein S deficiency
perform genetic testing for research purposes. In some people
protein S deficiency is due to acquired (non-inherited) causes,
and may be temporary. Where to
find more information:
http://www.protein.org.uk/
Prothrombin
deficiency: Prothrombin
(= factor II) is one of the approximately 15 clotting proteins
that is needed to stop us from bleeding. If you are low in
prothrombin, you have a tendency to bleed.
Prothrombin
20210 mutation: The
prothrombin 20210 mutation (= factor II 20210 mutation) is a
very common mutation and is a mild risk factor for deep vein
thrombosis (= DVT) and pulmonary embolism (= PE). Where to
find more information:
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/110/3/e15
PT:
Prothrombin Time.
The prothrombin time test, also called PT, helps measure how
well your blood is able to clot. The test provides a control for
long-term anticoagulant therapy that usually involves the use of
a coumarin derivative (e.g., Coumadin®). Also known as Protime.
Where to find more information:
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Prothrombin-Time
RIND:
Reversible ischemic neurologic deficit. The symptoms last for
more than twenty four hours and resolve within three weeks. This
term has been used to define what is nothing other than a mild
ischemic stroke with no persisting neurological disability.
Where to find more information:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/reversible-ischemic-neurologic-deficit/AN00185
Sticky Blood: UK name for
Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome. Where to find more
information: http://www.apsfa.org
Stroke:
A condition
that occurs when oxygen-rich blood is prevented from reaching an
area of the brain; can lead to death of brain cells in that
area. Where to
find more information:
http://www.apsfa.org/stroke.htm
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