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COMMONLY USED TERMS & ACRONYMS
Afebrile: without fever.
Ablative Transplant: a stem cell transplant using high-dose chemotherapy, with or
without radiation, to destroy diseased cells and suppress the immune system.
ALL: Acute Lymphoblastic or Lymphocytic Leukemia.
Allogeneic Transplant (Allo): a stem cell transplant from one person to another. Stem
cell donors may be related or unrelated.
Alopecia: loss of hair.
AML: Acute Myeloblastic, Myelogenous, or Myelocytic Leukemia.
ANC (Absolute Neutrophil Count): the subset of the white blood cells that directly fight
infections.
Anemia: a lower than normal number of red blood cells circulating in the blood.
Antiemetic: a group of drugs used to control nausea and vomiting.
Antimicrobial: medications given for prevention and treatment of bacterial, viral, and
fungal infections.
Apheresis: a procedure that circulates blood through a machine to remove cell
components, for example, stem cells, platelets.
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Arterial Blood Gas (ABG): a test performed on blood drawn from an artery that
identifies the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
Ascites: accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, often due to liver damage.
Aspirate: to remove by suction.
Autologous Transplant (Auto): a stem cell transplant where a patient's cells are
collected, frozen, then returned to the patient.
Blast Crisis: an advanced stage of chronic myelogenous leukemia, similar to acute
leukemia, where there are a large number of immature "blast" cells circulating in the
blood stream.
Biopsy: the removal of tissue for the purpose of making a diagnosis.
Blood Typing & Cross-Matching: red blood cells contain factors which are not the
same in all people. Before giving a transfusion, blood samples from donor and patient
are typed (i.e., A, AB, B, 0) to see if they match. Once typed, the samples are crossmatched to double-check that they are compatible.
Bone Marrow (BM): the soft, sponge-like material in the center of bones that produces
blood cells.
Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT): a transplant that uses stem cells collected from bone
marrow.
Candida: a type of yeast, common to the mucosa, that can cause infection in immunesuppressed patients.
CAT or CT Scan (Computed Tomography Scan): a 3D X-Ray.
CD34+ : is a visually distinguishing feature of a stem cell not found in other cells. This
unique feature helps us count the number of stem cells in your blood stream and aids in
collecting stem cells.
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Central Venous Catheter (CVC): a tube surgically placed in a large vein in the upper
chest or neck (e.g., Opti Flow, Hickman, Quinton, Groshong). Fluids, such as blood
and/or chemotherapy, may be infused through this catheter and blood samples can be
withdrawn from it.
Chemotherapy: drugs used to treat diseases by destroying abnormal cells or slowing
their growth.
Chest X-Ray (CXR): a radiologic study of the chest that includes the heart, lungs, and
ribs.
Clinical Trial: the study of the effects of drugs, equipment, or procedures according to a
formal research plan for a particular disease or group of diseases.
CLL: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
CML: Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.
Conditioning Regimen: chemotherapy, radiation and/or immunosuppressive agents
given in preparation for stem cell transplant.
Cryopreservation: to preserve by freezing. Autologous patients will have their stem
cells cryopreserved after collection then thawed prior to transplant.
Culture: a sample of a body fluid (e.g., blood, urine) or tissue taken to detect the
presence of an infection and to identify the organism responsible.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV): a virus that is detectable in the majority of adults. The virus
often reactivates when a patient is immunosuppressed. When active, the virus can
cause an infection in the lungs (pneumonia), intestine (enteritis), or blood (viremia).
Cytoxan (CTX or CY): the brand name of a chemotherapy drug (cyclophosphamide)
used to destroy cancer cells or to mobilize stem cells.
Day 0: the day a patient receives his/her stem cell transplant. The days before
transplant are called “minus” days (e.g., Day – 7 means there are seven days until
transplant) and the days following transplant are called “plus” days (e.g., Day +2 is two
days after transplant).
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Differential (diff): the breakdown of the white blood cell components, such as
lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes.
DLCO: a test of the lungs that determines the amount of oxygen taken into the body
and carbon dioxide expelled.
Donor Cell Infusion (DCI): an additional infusion of donor cells given to Allogeneic
patients following their transplant to induce a Graft versus Malignancy effect.
Electrolytes (lytes): mineral salts that are normally found in the blood stream. The
correct level of each electrolyte is important for the overall functioning of the body.
Examples are: sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
Emesis: vomiting.
Engraftment: the growth of new bone marrow cells following transplant. White blood
cell engraftment is determined by the ANC: three consecutive ANC’s greater than 500
define engraftment.
Febrile: fever.
Foley Catheter: a tube placed in the bladder to drain urine.
GI tract: gastrointestinal (digestive) tract.
Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD): a condition where transplanted cells from the
donor attack the cells of the host's body. In the first 100 days, the tissues most likely to
be attacked are the skin, GI tract, and the liver.
Graft Versus Malignancy or Leukemia: a phenomenon where transplanted cells of the
donor attack the patient's malignant cells.
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Growth Factors: a protein that stimulates the production and growth of blood cells, e.g.,
Neupogen (G-CSF), Aranesp or Neulasta.
Harvest: the process of collecting stem cells from patients’ or donors’ peripheral blood,
bone marrow or cord blood.
Hodgkin Lymphoma: HL
Hematocrit (crit, Hct): the percentage of red blood cells (normal ranges for women are
37-47% and men are 42-54%).
Hematology: a medical specialty that focuses on diseases of the blood and blood
forming tissues.
Hematuria: blood in the urine.
Hemoglobin (Hgb): iron-containing protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen
(normal ranges for hemoglobin are between 12-18 Gm/dl).
Hemmorrhagic Cystitis: bleeding from the lining of the bladder caused by irritants,
such as cytoxan and ifosphamide or viruses such as BK, CMV or adeno.
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV): a virus that causes infections such as cold sores. Over 90%
of adults have been exposed to this virus by age 20.
HLA Typing (Human Leukocyte Antigen Typing): molecular testing of blood DNA
used to find donors for allogeneic transplant. This test is run primarily from blood
samples.
Irradiation: treatment with x-rays or other radioactive substances. See TBI.
Performance Score: a method of rating a patient's level of activity or performance
status. This score gives an overall estimate of physical health. Performance status is an
important factor in determining eligibility for transplant.
Liver Function Tests (LFTs): lab tests performed on a blood specimen that gives
information about liver function, for example, bilirubin and transaminases.
Low Microbial Diet (LMD): a diet designed to eliminate foods
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which often contain large numbers of microorganisms/
bacteria.
MDS: Myelodysplastic Syndrome.
Metastatic: spread of cancer from an organ or tissue of origin to another part of the
body.
MM: Multiple Myeloma.
Mobilization (priming): the process used to move stem cells from the marrow into the
circulating blood. Growth factors, with or without chemotherapy, are used in this
process.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): a type of scan that takes pictures of the body using
magnetic fields and radio waves.
Mucositis: inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes. Transplant patients
can experience mucositis in the mouth, throat and esophagus.
MUD (Matched Unrelated Donor Transplant): a transplant in which the donor and
recipient are unrelated but have matching HLA types.
Neutropenia: a low number or lack of the neutrophils needed to fight infection.
NHL: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Non-myeloablative transplant (reduced intensity; mini-allogeneic): an Allogeneic stem
cell transplant that uses lower doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation. The goal of the
therapy is to make room for the donor cells.
Oncology: the study of cancer.
Packed Red Blood Cells (PRBC): a method of preparing red blood cells for transfusion.
Pancytopenia: a condition where a patient has fewer white blood cells, red blood cells
and platelets than normal.
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Patient Controlled Analgesic (PCA): a method of delivering intravenous pain
medications with a pump that allows the patient to self-administer the medication
when needed.
PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography): a scan that takes pictures of the body and
shows whether there are unusually high amounts of nutrients being processed.
Perineum (Perineal Area): the area between the rectum and the external genitalia. This
area is vulnerable to infection during periods of neutropenia.
Peripheral Blood: blood cells found in blood vessels (as opposed to blood cells found in
the bone marrow).
Perirectal: the area around the rectum.
PICC: a peripherally inserted central catheter that is inserted into a large vein in the
arm. This catheter can be placed at the bedside by a trained nurse or in radiology by a
physician.
Platelet (PLT): a type of blood cell that helps the blood to clot. The normal range for
platelets is between 150,000 -500,000/mm3. An increased risk of serious bleeding occurs
when platelets drop below 50,000/mm3.
Pluripotent Stem Cell: a primitive cell from which all other blood cells originate; also
called a stem cell.
Prophylactic: preventive.
Protocol: a standardized plan of treatment and evaluation designed to address a
research question.
P/SL: Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center.
Psychosocial: the psychological and social aspects of a person, for example, marital
status, age, education, support network, and coping skills.
Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs): a test used to evaluate the capacity of the lungs by
measuring the flow of air into and out of the lungs.
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Randomization: random assignment of patients to different types of treatment
specified in a clinical trial.
Red Blood Cell (RBC): a type of blood cell containing hemoglobin that transports
oxygen throughout the body.
Relapse: recurrence of disease.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): a common virus that causes a cold in healthy adults.
However, it can lead to serious pneumonia in patients with a weakened immune
system.
Restaging: a system of re-evaluating your disease characteristics and spread. Also,
assessing your baseline organ functionality to determine your body’s ability to tolerate
the rigors of high-dose chemotherapy treatments associated with a transplant.
Restaging may involve x-rays, scans, blood tests, biopsies, pulmonary function tests,
heart scans, EKG, and urine tests.
RMCC: Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers.
SAA: Severe Aplastic Anemia.
Solid Tumor: a cancer that originates in an organ or tissue other than the bone marrow
or lymph system (e.g., Testicular or Breast cancer).
Staging: a system of quantifying disease characteristics and spread. Staging may
involve x-rays, scans, blood tests, and biopsies.
Stem Cell: a cell from which all other blood cells originate; also called a pluripotent
stem cell.
Stomatitis: inflammation and ulceration of the lining of the mouth. Stomatitis is one
type of mucositis.
Syngeneic Transplant: a stem cell transplant from one HLA identical twin to the other.
Thrombocytopenia: a lower than normal number of platelets defined as less than or
equal to 50,000/mm3.
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Total Body Irradiation (TBI): a type of irradiation delivered to the entire body.
Total Parental Nutrition (TPN): intravenous (IV) fluids infused through a central
venous catheter to provide nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that normally would be
received from food. Also called hyperalimentation (HA).
Treatment Guidelines: a nationally recognized standard of care for the treatment of a
specific disease.
Unrelated Donor (URD Transplant): an Allogeneic transplant where the donor and
recipient are unrelated.
URI: Upper Respiratory Infection.
White Blood Cell (WBC): the cells that help your body to fight infections. Normal
ranges for white blood cells are between 4,500-11,000/mm3. Different types of white
blood cells include neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils.
Xerostomia: dry mouth caused by decreased or absent saliva production, which is a
side effect of TBI and chemotherapy.
 Revised January 2005, Fifth Edition, Rocky Mountain Blood and Marrow Transplant Program. All rights reserved.