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1. ADAMTS13: see TTP

2. agglutination: the clumping together of cells

3. albumin/serum albumin: a protein produced by the liver and measured in the blood

4. allograft: a graft derived from an individual of the same species that is sufficiently unlike genetically to interact antigenically

5. analogue: a compound that is structurally similar to another

6. anaphylaxis: hypersensitivity (as to foreign proteins or drugs) resulting from sensitization following prior contact with the causative agent; characterized by respiratory symptoms, fainting, itching, and hives

7. antagonist: in biochemistry, an antagonist acts against and blocks an action.

8. anticoagulant: any agent used to prevent the formation of blood clots.

9. antigen: a protein or carbohydrate substance (as a toxin or enzyme) capable of stimulating an immune response

10. antibody titers: a measure of proteins of high molecular weight that are produced normally after stimulation by an antigen and act specifically against the antigen in an immune response

11. antimicrobial agents: drugs for killing microorganisms (like bacteria) or suppressing their multiplication or growth

12. antimotility agents: drugs that slow down the movement of the gastrointestinal tract

13. anuria: absence of urine excretion

14. apheresis: withdrawal of blood from a donor's body, removal of one or more components (as plasma, blood platelets, or white blood cells) from the blood, and transfusion of the remaining blood back into the donor -- called also pheresis

15. atrophy: A wasting away, a diminution in the size of a cell, tissue, or organ

16. autoimmune disease: caused by antibodies or T cells that attack constituents of the body's own tissues

17. basal ganglia: a region consisting of 3 clusters of neurons located at the base of the brain that are responsible for involuntary movements

18. case fatality rate: the proportion of deaths among a group of persons with a particular condition or disease

19. cerebral/cerebrum: relating to the expanded anterior portion of the brain that overlies the rest of the brain, consists of cerebral hemispheres and connecting structures, and is considered to be the seat of conscious mental processes

20. complement: the complement system is a group of more than 20 serum proteins, some of which can be serially activated and participate in a cascade resulting in cell lysis (rupture of cell membranes). Complement activation also results in the formation of many biologically active complement fragments, like anaphylatoxins which produce smooth muscle contraction, mast cell histamine release, affect platelet aggregation, and act as mediators of the local inflammatory process.

21. C-reactive protein: a special type of protein produced by the liver that is only present during episodes of acute inflammation

22. CT scan: A computerized axial tomography scan is more commonly known by its abbreviated name, CAT scan or CT scan; an x-ray procedure which combines many x-ray images with the aid of a computer to generate cross-sectional views and, if needed, three-dimensional images of the internal organs and structures of the body

23. cortical necrosis: tissue death of the outer layer of the kidney

24. creatinine: a chemical waste molecule that is generated from muscle metabolism and transported through the bloodstream to the kidneys. The kidneys filter out most of the creatinine and dispose of it in the urine. As the kidneys become impaired, the creatinine will rise.

25. cytolytic: possessing a solvent or destructive action on cells

26. dialysis/hemodialysis: process of removing blood from an artery to purify it (remove wastes or toxins from the blood) and adjust fluid and electrolyte imbalances, adding vital substances, and returning it to a vein (see also peritoneal dialysis)

27. double-blinded study: A study in which neither the study groups nor the evaluator are aware of who receives the experimental treatment or procedure versus the placebo or comparison treatment

28. dysphasia: difficulty in swallowing

29. eae gene: the attaching and effacing gene of Shiga-like toxin-producing Escherichia coli; these bacteria induce the effacement of epithelial cell microvilli and develop intimate contact with the cell membrane, which contributes to the development of diarrheal disease.

30. effective renal plasma flow (ERPF): the amount of plasma flowing through the kidney tubules per unit time; differentiated from renal plasma flow which is approximately 10% greater than ERPF

31. electroencephalograph (EEG): an apparatus for detecting and recording brain waves

32. endemic: Present or usually prevalent disease in a population or geographical area at all times

33. endothelium: a single layer of thin flattened cells that lines internal body cavities

34. end-stage renal disease (ESRD): the final stages of a terminal kidney disease or condition when there is complete or near complete failure of the kidneys to function

35. epidemiology: a branch of medical science that deals with the incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population; the sum of the factors controlling the presence or absence of a disease or pathogen

36. etiology: the cause of a disease

37. fibrinolytics: clot-dissolving drugs

38. fulminant: Occurring suddenly and with great intensity or severity

39. gastric: relating to the stomach

40. genotype: the genetic constitution (the genome) of a cell, an individual or an organism.

41. glomerular: pertaining to the glomerulus, a tiny structure in the kidney that filters the blood to form urine.

42. glomerular filtration rate (GFR): the rate at which blood is filtered through tufts of capillaries in the kidney

43. glomerulonephritis: a disorder that causes inflammation of the internal kidney structures (specifically, the glomeruli); it may be a temporary and reversible condition, or it may be progressive.

44. glomerulosclerosis: scarring of the glomeruli in the kidney

45. graft: placing tissue or organs from one area on the body or from another person or an animal into the patient’s body; in this case transferring a kidney from one person to another

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