Liver Transplant Terms

A

Absorption: The degree and speed at which a drug enters the bloodstream from the small intestine. See Bioavailability.

Acute: Severe and sudden onset.

Acute tubular necrosis (ATN): Reversible kidney damage resulting in delayed kidney function. Among other factors, it may be caused by quality of donor organ, time of organ storage before transplantation, or medicines given to prevent rejection.

Albumin: An abundant protein in the body produced in the liver from amino acids.

Allograft (allogeneic graft or homograft): A graft between two individuals who are of the same species (e.g., human) but have genetic differences.

ALT: Alanine transaminase. An enzyme released into the blood when liver cells are injured.

Ammonia intoxication: When the liver is severely damaged, it cannot convert ammonia to urea and produces high ammonia levels.

Anesthesiologist: The doctor that takes care of your

medicines during surgery.

Angiography: X-ray of the blood vessels.

Antibody: A substance produced by the immune system in response to specific antigens, helping the body fight infection and foreign substances.

Antigen: Substances that can trigger an immune response. Some are found on the surface of cells.

Anti-rejection medicines: Medicines that help slow down your body's immune system. This helps protect your new organ from being rejected. These medicines are also called immunosuppressants.

Arteriogram: An X-ray of the arteries taken using a dye.

Ascites: Fluid that builds up in the abdomen when the liver is not working properly.

AST: Aspartate transaminase. An enzyme released into the blood when the liver, heart, muscle, or brain is injured.

ATN: Acute Tubular Necrosis.

Atherosclerosis: A disease in which plaque builds up on the inner walls of the arteries, causing narrowing or blockage that can lead to heart attack. Commonly known as hardening of the arteries.

B

B cell: A specialized white blood cell responsible for the body's immunity. B cells play a central role in antibody production.

Bacteria: Small organisms that cause disease.

Bile: A fluid made by your liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released when needed into your small intestine to help you absorb the fats in your diet.

Bile duct: The passageway that takes bile from the liver and empties it into the intestines.

Biliary: Pertaining to the liver, bile ducts, or gallbladder.

Biliary Atresia: A disease in newborns causing progressive destruction of the bile ducts.

Bilirubin: The orange or yellow color found in bile.

Bioavailability: A measure of how much of an administered drug is absorbed into the bloodstream in order to reach the intended site of action in the body. See Absorption.

Biopsy: The removal and examination of tissue for diagnosis.

Bladder: The part of the urinary tract that receives urine from the kidneys and stores it until urination.

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): A waste product normally excreted the kidney. Your BUN value represents how well your kidneys function.

C

Cadaver: Someone who has died.

Cadaveric donor: An individual who has recently died of causes that do not affect the function of an organ to be transplanted. The person's family has generously offered organs and/or tissues for transplantation.

Cardiac: Having to do with or referring to the heart.

Cardiologist: A physician who specializes in the care of the heart.

Catheter: A flexible tube attached to a small needle that is used to remove body fluids or inject medicines into a part of the body, such as a blood vessel.

Cholangitis: Inflammation of the bile ducts caused by bacteria from the bowel.

Cholestasis: Stoppage or suppression of bile flow.

Cholesterol: A fatty substance that comes, in part, from certain foods you eat. When too much cholesterol builds up in the body, it can lead to atherosclerosis.

Cirrhosis: A disease in which the liver is scarred and damaged.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD): See Peritoneal dialysis.

Corticosteroids: Hormones secreted by the adrenal gland. Corticosteroids are also manufactured. In high doses, corticosteroids cause immunosuppression. See Prednisone.

Creatinine: A product of muscle metabolism. Creatinine level is watched closely and serves as an indicator of kidney function.

Crossmatch: Blood test that tells if the donor's organ is a good match for your body. A negative crossmatch means there is no reaction between the donor and recipient and that the transplant can be done.

D

Dialysis: The process of cleansing and achieving chemical balance in the blood of patients whose kidneys have failed. Dialysis may refer to hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis (PD). See Hemodialysis and Peritoneal dialysis.

Diastolic: The bottom of 2 blood pressure numbers, which measures blood pressure when the heart is at rest.

Distention: Visible increase in the abdomen.

Donor: Person who gives an organ to be transplanted into someone else.

E

EBV: Epstein Barr Virus.

Edema: Fluid build up.

Encephalopathy: Occurs when blood bypasses the liver. Can cause drowsiness or coma.

F

Fibrosis: Early scarring of the liver that may be caused by a healing response to injury, infection, or inflammation.

G

Gallbladder: A small pocket that stores bile.

Gastroenterologist: A physician who specializes in the care of the digestive tract.

Gingival hypertrophy: Enlargement of the gums. It is a common side effect of cyclosporine therapy but can be managed with good oral hygiene.

Glucose: A type of sugar found in the blood.

Graft: A transplanted tissue or organ (e.g., kidney, heart, or liver).

Graft survival: When a transplanted tissue or organ is accepted by the body and functions properly. The potential for graft survival is increased when the recipient and donor are closely matched, and when immunosuppressive therapy is used.

H

Half match: Half the HLA of the donor and recipient are the same.

HelperT cell: The specialized white blood cell that helps stimulate other parts of the immune system to combat infection or foreign material.

Hematocrit: A test that measures the amount of red cells in the blood.

Hemodialysis: A method of dialysis in which blood is purified by circulation through a machine outside the body (sometimes called an "artificial kidney"). See Dialysis and Peritoneal dialysis.

Hepatic: Having to do with, or referring to, the liver.

Hepatitis: A disease that causes liver damage.

Hepatologist: A doctor who only treats patients with liver diseases and conditions.

Hirsutism: An excessive increase in hair growth – especially male-pattern hair growth in a female. Hirsutism is a common side effect of corticosteroids and can also occur with cyclosporine therapy, but is easily treated with depilatory creams or other methods of hair removal.

HLA (human leukocyte antigens) system: Genetically determined series of antigens that are present on human white blood cells (leukocytes) and tissues. See Tissue typing.

Hypertension: High blood pressure.

I

Immune response: Any defensive reaction to foreign material by the immune system.

Immune system: Part of you that helps protect you from foreign substances that try to harm you.

Immunosuppression: Prevention or suppression of immune response. Transplant patients receive immunosuppressive medicines to help prevent rejection.

Incision: The opening the surgeon makes to insert your new organ.

Infection: The introduction and multiplication of harmful microscopic organisms (e.g., bacteria, viruses) in the body.

Intravenous (IV): Into or within a vein – also refers to fluids and medicine that are injected into a vein through a needle or catheter.

J

Jaundice: A yellow appearance of the skin and eyes because there is too much bilirubin in the blood.

K

K+: Potassium.

Kidney: One of the two kidney-bean-shaped organs located on both sides of the spine, just above the waist. They rid the body of waste materials and maintain fluid balance through the making of urine.

L

Liver: The liver is the largest organ in your body and one of the most complex. It helps break down and use nutrients in the food you eat. It helps "clean" the blood of medicines and toxins. It makes proteins that help your blood clot after injury.

Living related donor (LRD): A blood relative who donates an organ.

M

Match: The compatibility between recipient and donor. In general, the more closely the donor and recipient "match," the greater the chance for a successful transplant.

N

NG tube: Naso-gastric tube.

Nephrectomy: Surgical removal of a kidney.

Nephritis: Acute or chronic inflammation of the kidney caused by infection, degenerative process, or vascular disease.

Nephrologist: A doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases and conditions.

Nephrosis: Non-inflammatory disease of the kidneys mostly affecting function of the nephrons.

Noncompliance: Failure to follow the instructions of your health care providers. For example, not taking medicine as prescribed or not showing up for clinic visits.

O

OT: Occupational Therapy.

P

PICU: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

PT: Physical Therapy.

Peritoneal dialysis: A method of purifying the blood by flushing the abdominal cavity with a dilute salt solution. See Dialysis and Hemodialysis.

Prednisone: A manufactured steroid hormone taken by most transplant recipients to help prevent rejections.

PTLD: Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease

R

Recipient: Person who receives an organ or tissue from another person.

Rejection: An immune response against grafted tissue that, if not successfully treated, results in failure of the graft to survive.

Renal: Having to do with, or referring to, the kidneys.

S

Sensitized: Being immunized, or able to mount an immune response, against an antigen by previous exposure to that antigen.

Systolic: The higher of the 2 blood pressure numbers, which measures the maximum blood pressure reached as blood is pumped out of the heart chambers.

T

T cell: A white blood cell responsible for the body's immunity. T cells can destroy cells infected by viruses, graft cells, and other altered cells.

Tissue typing: A blood test (done before transplant) to check the tissue match between donor's organ and recipient's HLA antigens. See HLA system.

U

Ultrasound: A machine used to identify any obvious abnormalities in the body.

UNOS: United Network for Organ Sharing. UNOS is responsible for overseeing the fair distribution of organs for transplantation.

UTI: Urinary tract infection: Infection of one or more parts of the urinary tract.

Uremia: Waste products built up in the blood.

V

Varices: High blood pressure in the veins of the esophagus and stomach. When these veins rupture, the term "bleeding varices" is used.

VCUG: Voiding cystourethrogram.

Virus: A germ that causes an infection.

W

White blood cells (WBC): Cells that fight infection.