BMT Glossary

Aplastic Anemia (AA):     A deficiency of certain types of blood cells caused by poor bone marrow function.

Acute:     Occurring suddenly, over a short period of time.

Afebrile:     Without fever.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL):     A disorder of blood cell production in which abnormal white blood cells (lymphoblasts) multiply in the blood and bone marrow.  It is the most common form of childhood leukemia.

Allogeneic transplant  (ALLO):     A transplant in which stem cells are donated from a related or unrelated donor whose tissue is a close match to that of the person having the transplant.

Alopecia :     Hair loss

Anemia:    A condition in which blood is deficient in red blood cells, hemoglobin, or total volume of red blood cells, resulting in weakness and fatigue.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Acute Non-lymphocytic (ANLL):     The malignant cell in this disease is an immature granulocyte (myeloblast). It is more resistant to treatment than are other forms of leukemia. It is more common to people over 25 years of age, but can occur in children.

Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC):     The total number of neutrophils, or white blood cells that are the primary defense for fighting infection.

Antibiotic:     A drug used to fight infections.

Antibody:     A protein made by the body’s immune system usually in response to a foreign body, or antigen. Antibodies fight infection.

Antigens:     Proteins in the body that are recognized by the immune system and can produce an immune response.

Apheresis:     A procedure to collect peripheral blood cells by drawing blood and circulating it through a machine that removes the stem cells and returns the remaining blood cells to the person.

Asepsis:     Free of infection.

Aspergillus:     A species of fungus, which can cause infection of any mucous membrane including the ears, lungs and other organs.

Aspiration (of marrow):     The process of removal of the marrow from the marrow cavities.

Antithymocyte Globulin(ATG):     A protein preparation used to treat and prevent graft-versus-host disease. Side effects may include fever and chills, joint pain, headache, lower blood pressure or increased pulse for a few hours, decreased platelet count or allergic reactions such as hives or shortness of breath.

Autologous transplant (Auto):     A transplant using the patient’s own stem cells.

Biopsy:     A procedure in which a small piece of tissue is removed from the body by a needle or through an incision and examined under a microscope for purposes of diagnosis.

Blood typing and cross matching:     The blood cells contain factors that are not the same in all people.  Before a transfusion can be given, blood samples from the donor and recipient are typed or classified (type A, B, AB,or O). Once the two blood samples have been typed, they are cross-matched to be absolutely sure that they are compatible. This is done by placing red cells of the donor in a sample of the recipient’s serum and red blood cells of the recipient in a sample of the donor’s serum. If the blood does not “clump” or agglutinate, the two bloods are compatible. Techniques for typing white blood cells and platelets are similar, but more complex. (See HLA.)

Bone marrow:     Spongy tissue inside the bones where all blood cells are produced.

Bone marrow aspiration:     A procedure used to obtain bone marrow to examine for disease or engraftment.

Bone marrow collection or harvest:     Surgical procedure for obtaining bone marrow for transplantation.

BMT:     Blood or bone marrow transplant.

Bone marrow transplant:     A procedure used to treat some cancers and other diseases. After high-dose chemotherapy and radiation, damaged bone marrow is replaced with new bone marrow cells.

Complete Blood Count (CBC):     A series of tests to examine components of blood.  The tests are useful in diagnosing certain health problems and in following the results of treatment.

Central venous catheter (CVC or RAC or right atrial catheter):     A small, long, flexible plastic tube, usually inserted into a vein in the neck or chest. Used to administer medications, fluids, and nutrition and for collecting stem cells. 

Chemotherapy:     Treatment with one or more anticancer drugs to stop or slow the growth of cancer cells.

Chronic:     A term that is used to describe a disease of long duration or one that is progressing slowly.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML):     Abnormal maturation and proliferation of white blood cell precursors of myeloid tissue. Characterized by abnormal proliferation of mature leukocytes (white blood cells). A disease similar to acute myelogenous leukemia except that it is a slowly progressive disease. It is rare in children and more common in adults.

Cytomegalovirus: (CMV):     A type of virus, which can cause non-apparent infections in healthy individuals but is dangerous to immunosuppressed patients. A syndrome similar to infections mononucleosis associated with CMV infection. This virus may manifest itself as pneumonia, colitis or hepatitis.

Colony-stimulating factors:     Proteins that stimulate the production and growth of blood cells: see Growth factors.

Conditioning or preparative regimen:     Single or multi-agent chemotherapy paired with or without radiation treatments. Its purpose is to suppress the immune system and to destroy disease cells in blood and bone marrow.

Culture:     A laboratory procedure in which microorganisms contained in samples of blood secretions, or other body fluids are cultivated in special nutrients used to determine the presence and type of infectious agents.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA):     The basic material of life. DNA is a long, chain–like chemical found in the nucleus of all cells. The segments of the chain are the genetic code that guides the development of every cell.

Electrolytes:     Minerals such as calcium, potassium, and sodium that are needed to provide the proper environment for the cells in the body.

Engraftment:     The process in which transplanted stem cells begin to grow in the bone marrow and manufacture new blood cells.

Gastrointestinal (GI):     Pertaining to the digestive track, which includes the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and rectum.

Graft:     The new stem cells that are transplanted and begin to grow in the recipient’s bone marrow after the transplant.

Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF):     Chemotherapy kills cancer cells, but also decreases the number of white blood cells in the bone marrow, which fight infections. G-CSF is a growth factor, which stimulates the growth of white blood cells.

Granulocyte/Macrophate-Colony Stimulating factor (GM-CSF):     Influences the growth and function in three cell types: macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils.

Graft failure:     A complication after BMT in which the transplanted stem cells do not grow in the recipient’s bone marrow and thus do not produce new blood cells.

Graft-versus-host Disease (GVHD):     A complication after BMT in which the transplanted stem cells cause the recipient’s new immune system to attack his or her own body cells and tissue. Its severity will depend on how well the antigens of the recipient and donor match. Symptoms may include skin rash, blisters, diarrhea and jaundice.

Growth factors:     Medications that increase the number of stem cells in the blood by stimulating the production and growth of blood cells.

Haploidentical transplant (Haplo):     Donor and recipient share only one–half HLA antigens.

Hodgkin’s disease (HD):     Form of lymphoma.

High Efficiency Air Particle filtration (HEPA):     A type of filtration system used to purify the air in the patient’s room.

High Dose Chemotherapy (HDC):     High dose chemotherapy. 

Herpes simplex:     A viral infection that usually produces small, temporary, irritating, and sometimes painful fluid-blisters on the skin and mucous membranes.

Hyperalimentation (Hyperal):     Intravenous administration of nutrients, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract. It is also called total parenteral nutrition (TPN)

Immune system:     The organs and cells in the body that fight infection and disease.

Immunosuppression:     Reducing the function of the immune system to prevent a reaction against donor marrow cells and to prevent graft-versus-host disease.

Immunotherapy:     A method of treating cancer that uses substances that stimulate the body’s immune system.

Inborn Errors of Metabolism:     Diseases in which there exists an error in the metabolism of a particular product thereby allowing for an accumulation of this substance in organs and tissues of the body. Otherwise known as metabolic or storage disease.

Infection:     The invasion and multiplication of disease-producing organisms in the body.  Three common organisms are bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Informed consent:     The permission given by a person before surgery or other kinds of treatment.  The patient, parent or guardian, must understand the potential risks and benefits of the treatment and legally agree to accept those risks.

Interferon:     Special proteins made by cells to fight virus infections.

Interstitial pneumonia:     Inflammation of the lung tissue, often caused by virus.

Intrathecal:     An injection that is given directly into the spinal canal to prevent or destroy leukemia cells or to administer other medications.

Intravenous (IV):     Abbreviation for intravenous or intravenously, meaning into or within a vein.

Leukapheresis:     A procedure to collect the white blood cells and stem cell portion of the blood. See also Apheresis.

Leukocyte:     The term for all types of white blood cells.

Leukopoenia:     Low white blood counts.

Lumbar Puncture (LP):     A diagnostic procedure that involves taking and examining a sample of spinal fluid. Also called a spinal tap.

Lymphatic system:     Circulatory network of vessels carrying lymph, the almost colorless fluid the bathes body cells, and the lymphoid organs such as the lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus, that produce and store infection-fighting cells.

Lymph nodes:     Bean shaped structures scattered along vessels of the lymphatic system. The nodes act as filters, collecting bacteria or cancer cells that may travel through the lymphatic system.

Lymphoblasts:     A lymphocyte that is in an early stage of development.

Lymphocytes:     White blood cells that help protect the body against viral infection.

Lymphoma:     A tumor of the lymphatic system caused by abnormal lymphocyte growth.

Mobilization:     Using growth factor drugs and/or chemotherapy to move stem cells from the bone marrow into the blood stream for collection.

Monocytes:     One type of white blood cells that destroys invading bacteria.

Mucositis:     Inflammation of the mucous membranes.

Matched Unrelated Donor (MUD):     Matched unrelated donor, also referred as URD (unrelated donor).

Multiple Myeloma (MM):     A cancer in which there is a uncontrolled proliferation and disordered function of cells called plasma cells in the bone marrow.  Also known as a plasma cell neoplasm.

Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS):     A disease characterized by abnormal bone marrow and peripheral blood cell deficiency. Up to 75% of the patients with MDS will develop acute leukemia

Neuroblastoma:     A solid tumor (sarcoma) arising from tissue of the nervous system. Often located in the abdomen, composed chiefly of neuroblasts.

Neutropenia:     Low neutrophil count.

Neutrophils:     A type of white blood cell that plays a major role in the body’s defense against bacteria, viruses and fungi.  The most common type of white blood cell in the bloodstream.

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL):     A cancer in which the cells of lymphoid tissue (found mainly on the lymph nodes and spleen) multiply unchecked.

Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC):     Stem cells that circulate in the blood.

Peripheral blood stem cell donation:     Having stem cells removed from blood through a process called apheresis, which takes the stem cells out of the blood and returns the remaining blood back to the donor.

Plasma:     The liquid portion of the blood that contains numerous proteins and minerals and is necessary for normal blood functioning.

Platelet:     Blood cells that make the blood clot.

Pre-transplant evaluation:     A medical examination before BMT; also called work-up.

Priming Chemotherapy:     Chemotherapy given to increase the number of stem cells in the blood.

Protocol:     A formal treatment plan that specifies dosages of drugs, times they are to be given, and various procedures and tests necessary during the course of treatment.

Rad:     A unit of measurement for radiation.

Radiation:     Treatment to destroy cancer cells and the immune system using high-energy rays from-rays, electron beams, or radioisotopes

Red blood cells:     Cells that carry oxygen to all the various organs and tissues of the body by means of hemoglobin.

Relapse:     The reappearance of a disease after a period when symptoms had lessened or ceased.

Remission:     The decrease or disappearance of cancer symptoms. Also, the period when symptoms have lessened or ceased.

Right atrial catheter (RAC):     A catheter passed under the skin of the chest wall and inserted into the right chamber of the heart.  Used in BMT patients to give medicines and fluids. Designed for long term use in giving drugs and total parenteral nutrition, and in withdrawing blood samples, (also known as central venous catheter).

Red Blood Cell Count (RBC):     Provides the number of red blood cells in a single drop (microliter) of blood.

Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism test (RFLP):     This refers to the analysis of size differences in DNA. Scientists use enzymes (restriction enzymes), which cut DNA into specific sizes.  The cut DNA is then analyzed on an electrophoresis instrument to separate and characterize the DNA by size.  It may be used to monitor engraftment of cells from the donor.

Severe combined Immuno-deficiency Disease (SCID):     Disease in which there is a deficiency of B and T lymphocyte cells. It is usually fatal in infancy.

Stem Cells:     “Parent” cells that divide and form the cells that make up the blood and immune system.

Stem cell collection, harvest, or retrieval:     The process of removing stem cells from blood. See also “Apheresis “and “ Leukapheresis”.

Total body Irradiation (TBI):     Unlike radiation for tumors where the goal is to target a specific area, TBI is aimed at the whole body to get all the bone marrow cells.

T-Lymphocytes:     White blood cells that tell the body to attack foreign cells, which could cause infections. 

Thrombocytopenia:     A lowered platelet count. 

Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN):     See also hyperalimentation.

Unrelated Donor (URD):     The bone marrow transplant donor is not related to the recipient but is closely matched. Also referred to as MUD (matched unrelated donor)

Veno-Occlusive Disease (VOD):     A disease caused by obstructed veins, commonly associated with the liver.

White Blood cell count (WBC):     A test to determine the total number of leukocytes in the blood.

White blood cells:     Blood cells that fight infection, also called leukocytes.

Workup:     See Pre-transplant evaluation.