Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) An enzyme produced in liver cells that leaks out into the blood when liver damage occurs.

Alpha interferon A protein produced by the immune system in response to a viral infection. Alpha interferons help protect healthy cells from attack by viruses.

Amino acids The building blocks of proteins

Anemia A shortage of red blood cells or hemoglobin or total blood volume

Antibody A protective substance produced by the body in response to attack by bacteria, viruses, or other parasites

Antiviral Weakening or opposing the action of a virus

Ascites Buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity

Autoimmune Arising from and attacking one's own body tissues

Autoimmune hepatitis Form of hepatitis in which cells from one's own immune system attack the liver

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Biopsy Procedure in which a small piece of tissue is removed from a living patient for examination.

Biotherapy (Also known as biologic therapy) Therapy that involves giving synthetic forms of natural substances produced in the body to treat disease.

Bloodborne Carried through or in the blood

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Chronic Lasting a long time; used to describe a disease that progresses slowly and continues for a long time.

Cirrhosis Liver disease that involves scarring and damage of the liver cells and interruption of blood flow through the liver

Clotting factor An essential part of the blood that is responsible for clotting.

Coagulation Clotting

Combination therapy Treatment that involves giving more than one drug or agent

Compensated liver disease Liver disease in which the liver is damaged but still functioning normally

Contraindication A condition in which a drug should not be used.

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Decompensated liver disease Liver disease in which the liver is damaged and not functioning normally.

Detoxification Removal of poisonous substances

Diagnostic Tests Tests used to identify a disease

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ELISA Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay: A blood test used to detect antibodies to a foreign substance (for example, a virus)

End-stage liver disease Disease in which the liver has minimal function. The only treatment for end-stage liver disease is liver transplantation.

Enzyme A protein in the body that helps a biological process go faster.

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False negative A test result that indicates that a person does not have a condition when in fact he or she does.

False positive A test result that indicates that a person has a condition when in fact he or she does not.

Fatigue Tiredness

Fibrosis Formation of scar tissue in response to injury

Fluctuating Not remaining at one level

Fulminant hepatitis A severe form of hepatitis involving death of liver cells and often liver failure.

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Gastroenterologist A doctor who specializes in diseases of the stomach and intestines.

Genotype The genetic makeup of an organism

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Half-life The time required for half the amount of a drug to be eliminated from the body.

Hemodialysis A process of removing blood from an artery, purifying it, and returning it to the body.

Hemoglobin A protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs.

Hemophiliac A person who does not produce all of the proteins necessary for clotting blood.

Hepatic encephalopathy Abnormal brain function caused by passage of toxic substances from the liver to the blood.

Hepatitis Inflammation of the liver

Hepatitus Common misspelling for "hepatitis", please see hepatitis

Hepititis Common misspelling for "hepatitis", please see hepatitis

Hepititus Common misspelling for "hepatitis", please see hepatitis

Hepatocellular carcinoma A type of liver cell cancer

Hepatologist A doctor who specializes in diseases of the liver.

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Incidence The number of new cases of a disease occurring in a population over a specific period of time.

Inflammation A response to injury that involves swelling, redness, heat, and pain that serves to rid the body of a toxic substance or damaged tissue.

Interferon A protein produced by the immune system in response to attack by a virus that helps protect other healthy cells from attack.

Ischemic Insufficient blood flow and oxygen to the body tissues

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Jaundice Yellowing of the skin or eyes

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Liver A vital organ responsible for manufacturing various proteins, purification of the blood, and processing drugs and other chemicals into harmless substances.

Liver biopsy A procedure in which a small portion of liver tissue is removed to identify liver disease.

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Microgram One thousandth of a gram

Monotherapy Treatment that involves only one drug

Myalgia Muscle pain

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Nucleoside analogs Molecules that are similar to the building blocks of DNA and RNA.

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PEG Abbreviation for polyethylene glycol

Pegylated Attached to a molecule of polyethylene glycol

Pegylation The process of attaching a polyethylene glycol molecule

Polyethylene Glycol A large water-soluble molecule that when attached to another molecule increases its lifetime in the body.

Prevalence The number of cases of a disease existing in a population at a specific point in time or specific period of time.

Progression (of a disease) Becoming more advanced, severe, or worse.

Promiscuity Not restricted to one sexual partner

Prophylactic Preventive

Protocol A precise and detailed plan for a therapy regimen

Psoriasis A skin disorder that involves a scaly rash

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Qualitative Relating to quality or kind

Quantitative Can be expressed as a number or quantity

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Recombinant Made up of pieces of DNA from different species of an organism

Relapse Reappearance of a disease after a period of improvement

RIBA Recombinant immunoblot assay: A blood test that tests for antibodies to a given substance (for example, virus particles).

Ribavirin Name of a drug similar to the building blocks of DNA that has activity against viruses.

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Subcutaneous Under the skin

Sustained Viral Response (SVR) The inability to detect genetic material from the hepatitis C virus for at least 24 weeks after hepatitis C therapy is completed. A very sensitive gene-based test, called a PCR (polymerase chain reaction), is used for this purpose.

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Transfusion Transfer of blood.

Transplantation Transfer of an organ from one person to another.

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Viral load The amount of a given virus in the blood. The hepatitis C viral load is usually expressed as copies per milliliter or units per milliliter.

Virus A microscopic organism that relies on the genetic machinery of living cells to grow and reproduce.

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