Glossary

155 kD autoantibody
The name of an antibody found most frequently in the blood of patients with clinically-amyopathic dermatomyositis. This is the form of dermatomyositis that causes a dermatomyositis skin rash but no muscle weakness.
Acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus
The formal medical term for the butterfly facial rash experienced by patients who have the systemic form of lupus erythematosus.
Alopecia
A general term referring to hair loss of any cause. Lupus patients can experience several different patterns of hair loss.
Amino acids
Chemical building blocks that, when linked together, form proteins. Proteins are the building blocks of cells.
Amyopathic dermatomyositis
A form of dermatomyositis in which skin disease is present for prolonged periods of time (6 months or greater) but no muscle weakness develops. Patients having this form of dermatomyositis have a very small risk of developing interstitial lung disease and perhaps have an increased risk of developing internal cancers.
ANA
An abbreviation for antinuclear antibodies. These are the antibodies that react to an individual's own tissue who is suffering from autoimmune disease. The test for antinuclear antibodies is universally positive in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. However, this test is also positive in a number of other conditions besides lupus.
Antibody/Antibodies
Proteins produced by B-lymphocytes that normally serve to recognize and bind to foreign substances that enter the body like infections and environmental chemicals. Antibodies are the foot soldiers of the body's immune system which is designed to protect itself from foreign invasion.
Antimalarial
A class of drugs used to treat lupus and dermatomyositis skin diseases.
Autoantibody/Autoantibodies
Types of antibodies that bind to one's own tissues rather than foreign substances. When autoantibodies bind to one's own tissues, autoimmune disease results.
Autoimmune disease /Autoimmunity
Autoimmune diseases result when a person's own immune response
for reasons that are not clear
starts to work abnormally and attacks the person's own body tissues. Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which many different tissues in the body, including the skin, can be attacked.
Arthralgia/Arthritis
Arthralgia is a Latin term meaning "joint aches". Arthritis means "inflammation (redness, swelling, pain) in joints".
Asteotosis
Another term meaning "dry skin."
Asteototic eczema
Red irritable skin resulting from severe dryness of the skin.
B-cells
A form of lymphocyte that is responsible for producing antibodies and autoantibodies.
Bacteria
Germs that can be killed with antibiotics.
Behcet's disease
A complex autoimmune disease in which the body is affected by genital ulcers, mouth ulcers, eye inflammation, and several types of skin lesions.
Bulla
Medical term for a skin blister.
Butterfly rash (synonymous with malar rash)
A butterfly-shaped pattern of redness over the cheeks and nose that is most typically seen in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Calcinosis
Deposition of calcium salts into the skin, producing hard knots and sometimes ulcers.
CBC
An abbreviation for "complete blood count."
Centromere antibody
A type of autoantibody seen in patients with limited forms of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).
Cell
The basic building block of human tissues. Cells work together to produce tissues within the body. Different tissues working together produce functional organs such as the kidney, heart, brain, and skin.
Cellulitis
A pattern of inflammation of the skin resulting from infection with bacteria.
Chloroquine
An antimalarial drug commonly used in patients with skin problems resulting from lupus and dermatomyositis. Antimalarial drugs are also used to minimize the doses of corticosteroid drugs (prednisone) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Aralen is a brand name of chloroquine available in the US.
Classic dermatomyositis
Patients having the hallmark cutaneous manifestations of dermatomyositis, proximal muscle weakness, and objective evidence of muscle inflammation characteristic of dermatomyositis.
Clinically-amyopathic dermatomyositis
A functional designation that can be used to refer to either amyopathic DM and/or hypomyopathic DM patients (i.e., clinically-amyopathic DM = amyopathic DM + hypomyopathic DM). This designation has been coined to emphasize the fact that the predominant clinical problem is such patients is skin disease.
Complement
Proteins in the blood that work with antibodies to ward off infection. Patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus can have abnormally low levels of complement proteins in their blood.
Complete blood count (CBC)
A counting of the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets that are circulating in the blood.
Compounding pharmacy
an old fashion type of pharmacy that still mixes medications to doctors specifications such as pouring prescribed amounts of drug powder into capsules.
Cryoglobulins
Blood proteins that stick together to form a gel when exposed to temperatures below that which is normal for a healthy human being.
Cutaneous
A term that simply refers to the skin (e.g., cutaneous vasculitis
a form of vasculitis that occurs in the skin). This term is also used to refer to the skin manifestations of an illness like lupus or dermatomyositis that can also cause internal systemic problems (e.g., kidney disease, lung disease).
Cutaneous vasculitis
Skin lesions that result from inflammation and injury in the blood vessels of the skin.
Dapsone
A drug that is used in the treatment of lupus skin disease and other types of skin problems such as dermatitis herpetiformis. The most common side effect of Dapsone is anemia (low blood count). A complete blood count (CBC) should be done regularly while taking this medication.
Dermal-Epidermal junction
The junction between the epidermis and dermis in the skin. Inflammation and damage in lupus skin lesions is often most prominent at the dermal-epidermal junction.
Dermatomyositis (DM)
An autoimmune disease in which the skin and muscles, especially those in the shoulders and hips, are damaged with a characteristic pattern of inflammation.
Dermatomyositis sine myositis
The presence of dermatomyositis skin disease without muscle weakness. A term now of predominately historical significance that is synonymous for amyopathic dermatomyositis.
Dermatomyositis-specific skin disease
A pattern of skin change seen only in dermatomyositis patients (analogous to the "lupus erythematosus-specific skin disease" concept coined by James N. Gilliam, M.D. in 1975)
Dermis
The underlying, supportive layer of the skin. Collagen molecules in the dermis give structure and toughness to the skin.
Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE)
Coin-shaped, scarring lupus skin lesions that occur most commonly on the scalp and face. Classical DLE lesions represent the most common variety of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Lupus patients whose illness is initially manifested by isolated DLE skin lesions have a very low risk for subsequently developing systemic lupus erythematosus.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
The molecule located in the nucleus of cells that contains the genetic code. By reading the genetic code in DNA, cells can make new protein building blocks necessary for the cells to function properly and divide. DNA is the target antigen for a class of autoantibodies that are produced by the autoimmune response in SLE patients. DNA autoantibodies are very helpful in the diagnosis of SLE since they are not produced in other disease settings.
DNA autoantibodies
Autoantibody proteins produced by SLE patients. Since such autoantibodies are not produced in other disease settings, they are very helpful in making a specific diagnosis of SLE.
Eczema
A general term that literally means "to weep out." Eczema is commonly used to refer to highly sensitive skin. Different patterns of eczema include atopic eczema (syn. atopic dermatitis), seborrheic eczema (syn. seborrheic dermatitis), and nummular eczema.
Dermatitis
A general term referring to skin inflammation of any type or cause.
Dry skin
Dull, scaly skin that results from loss of water from the skin. This can result from aging alone or from certain rheumatic diseases (e.g., scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome). When severe, dry skin can cause itching. Generally this is a greater problem during the winter when air is very dry. The regular use other good bathing techniques followed by the application of a moisturizer (emollient) can help combat this problem.
Epidermis
The outer cellular layer of the skin that produces the stratum corneum, a cellophane-type membrane that separates the skin from its environment.
Emollient
Another name for moisturizers.
Endothelial cells
Cells that line the inside of blood vessels in the skin and other parts of the body.
Erythema/erythematous
A term meaning "red skin" that is usually the result of inflammation.
Fibroblast
The type of cell that normally lives in the dermis and produces collagen molecules in that location.
Fibromyalgia
A symptom complex of fatigue, muscle aches, and tender spots in different areas of the body. Fibromyalgia most often occurs in the absence of other specific medical problems. There are no specific laboratory tests that are abnormal in patients with isolated fibromyalgia. However, fibromyalgia symptoms can also occur in patients with other rheumatic diseases such a systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome and dermatomyositis.
Genes
Discrete segments of DNA that contain the genetic code. The cell "reads" the genetic code in order to build the protein molecules
the fundamental building blocke of plant and animal tissues.. The human genome project has recently discovered that human beings have approximately 30,000 genes. Each gene can encode one or several similar proteins.
Globulin
A type of blood protein that is elevated in systemic inflammatory diseases such as lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Antibody molecules are a form of globulin protein.
Hallmark skin changes of dermatomyositis
Skin lesions that alone or in combination are seen only in patients with some form of dermatomyositis (synonymous with dermatomyositis-specific skin disease).
Hydroxychloroquine
An antimalarial drug used to treat the skin changes of lupus and various forms of arthritis. Antimalarial drugs are also used to minimize the doses of corticosteroid drugs (prednisone) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, and other systemic rheumatic diseases. Plaquenil is a brand name of hydroxychloroquine available in the US.
Hyperglobulinemia/Hypergammaglobulinemia
Terms used to indicate high levels of antibody molecules in the blood of individuals suffering from systemic inflammatory disease.
Hyperkeratosis
Excessive scaliness of skin. The scales of psoriasis represent a form of hyperkeratosis.
Hyperpigmentation
Increased amounts of melanin pigment in the skin producing brown and black coloration. Hyperpigmentation often follows inflammation in the skin.
Hypomyopathic dermatomyositis
Patients having dermatomyositis-specific skin disease and no muscle weakness who are found to have subclinical (no symptoms) evidence of muscle inflammation upon laboratory, electrophysiologic, and/or radiologic evaluation.
Hypopigmentation
Decreased amounts of melanin pigment in the skin producing light colored or white areas. Inflammation in the skin can also produce hypopigmentation.
Idiopathic inflammatory dermato-myopathies
A more inclusive disease group designation for the spectrum of illness that has conventionally been referred to as "idiopathic inflammatory myopathies" or "dermatomyositis/polymyositis."
Immunity/Immune System
The body's capacity to recognize and ward off infections and tumor cells. Rheumatic diseases such as lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, and rheumatoid arthritis are considered to be disorders of immunity.
Immunoglobulin
Formal name for an antibody molecule.
Inflammation
A protective response in tissues that produces redness, swelling, pain and tenderness. Inflammation is the body's way of telling us there is something wrong.
Interstitial lung disease
A form of pneumonia not caused by infections that can produce shortness of breath in patients having dermatomyositis, scleroderma or other forms of rheumatic disease. Same meaning as "interstitial pneumonia" or "interstitial pneumonitis."
Jo-1 antibody
A type of antibody molecule seen in the blood of patients with muscle inflammation due to polymyositis or dermatomyositis.
Keratinocyte
The most common type of cell in the epidermis. The protective outer stratum corneum layer is made up of dead keratinocytes that have become stuck together.
La/SS-B autoantibody
A type of autoantibody seen in patients having certain forms of skin lupus such as subacute cutaneous LE or neonatal LE and Sjoegren's syndrome.
Langerhans cell
The type of cell in the epidermis that responds to antigens from the environment such as chemicals (e.g., poison ivy) or chemicals associated with infections. The Langerhans cell is responsible for presenting antigens to T-cells.
Linear scleroderma
A form of localized scleroderma (morphea) that takes the shape of a line or streak of abnormally hard or tight skin on an arm or leg, the body, or scalp. Vital internal organs such as the kidney, lungs and bowels are not affected by scleroderma changes.
Localized scleroderma
Another name for morphea. Morphea and localized scleroderma refer to a condition in which scleroderma produces hardening of the skin but does not attack the vital internal organs such as the kidney, lungs and bowels.
Lupus band test
Special microscopic examination of a skin biopsy specimen to determine if antibody or complement molecules are bound to the skin. Such a finding can be indicative of lupus erythematosus. This test can be performed on biopsies of lupus skin lesions (lesional lupus band test). It can also be performed on biopsies of normal, non-involved skin of lupus patients (non-lesional lupus band test).
Lupus
a Latin word meaning "wolf" that is commonly used to refer to the autoimmune disease, lupus erythematosus. Up to the top
Lupus erythematosus (LE)
An autoimmune disease that can attack virtually any organ in the body, including the skin. LE is extremely heterogeneous, meaning that this same disease process can cause a totally different set of problems from one patient to the next. Since LE was first recognized by its destructive skin changes (caused by what we now recognize as discoid lupus erythematosus), doctors in the 1800s named it "lupus (wolf) erythematosus (red)" -- as if a wolf had chewed on the skin causing it to have a reddened appearance.
Lupus erythematosus tumidus
(same as "lupus tumidus" and "tumid LE")
Lupus-nonspecific skin disease
Skin problems that can occur in lupus erythematosus patients but can also occur in patients who have other types of diseases besides lupus (e.g., cutaneous vasculitis).
Lupus profundus
A form of lupus skin disease in which knots form in the fatty layer of the skin. Lupus panniculitis is an alternative name for this same condition.
Lupus rash
a common term used for lupus skin disease.
Lupus skin disease
Skin problems that result from autoimmune skin injury caused by lupus erythematosus. There are many different types of lupus skin disease that dermatologists and other doctors recognize. Some forms of lupus skin disease most often occur in individuals who do not have or later develop health problems from systemic lupus activity (e.g., discoid lupus erythematosus or discoid LE). However, other forms such as acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (the butterfly rash of systemic lupus erythematosus) occurs in individuals at high risk for becoming ill as a result of systemic (internal) lupus activity.
Lupus-specific skin disease
a type of skin disease that occurs only in patients with lupus erythematosus. The appearance of a skin biopsy under the microscope is largely responsible for the characterization as lupus-specific skin disease.
Lupus tumidus
Another name for "lupus erythematosus tumidus."
Lymphocytes
Cells of the immune system that specifically recognize and protects us from foreign antigens.
Macrophages
The soldiers of the immune system that are ordered by T-lymphocytes to attack and destroy foreign invading microbes and tumor cells that develop within our own body.
Malar erythema
Redness over the cheeks of the face seen in systemic lupus patients. Malar erythema is the formal name for the "butterfly rash" of SLE.
Mechanic's hand skin lesion
Thickened and scaly skin over the palmar aspect of the fingers and thumb of a patient having dermatomyositis. This skin change simulates the appearance of the hands of a manual laborer and a dermatomyositis patient who does not use their hands so vigorously.
Melanocyte
The type of cell in the epidermis that produces melanin pigment which gives normal skin its brown or tanned tone.
Moisturizer
a combination of chemicals mixed together and applied to the skin that can prevent the loss of skin water and thereby counteract dry, itchy skin.
Molecule
The basic building block from which cells are made. Proteins are molecules that are vital to the health of cells.
Morphea
A term that is interchangeable with "localized scleroderma" (see above).
Motor neuropathy
Weakness initially felt in the arms, legs, hands, and feet resulting from damage to the nerves that supply these areas of the body. Certain diseases and drug treatments (e.g., Dapsone) can cause this problem.
Musculoskeletal system
a term referring to the bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments within the body.
Myalgia
Aches and pains in muscles.
Myositis
Inflammation of muscle tissue seen in diseases such as dermatomyositis and polymyositis.
Neuropathy
numbness, tingling, and/or weakness initially felt in the arms, legs, hands, and feet resulting from damage to the nerves that supply sensation to these areas of the body. Certain diseases and drug treatments can cause this problem.
Nodule
A lump or bump in the skin that is _ inch or larger in diameter.
Nucleus
The compartment within cells that contains the genetic code imprinted in DNA molecules.
Pharmacy, compounding
An old fashion type of pharmacy that still mixes medications to doctors orders such as pouring prescribed amounts of a drug powder into capsules.
Photosensitivity
Abnormal sensitivity to sunlight or artificial forms of ultraviolet radiation, such as can be emitted from fluorescent light tubes.
Plaquenil
A brand name for hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug used in treating skin lupus problems and forms of arthritis.
Prednisone
An oral form of cortisone used to decrease inflammation throughout the body.
Protein
Chemical building blocks of cells that are produced by genetic information encoded in RNA molecules.
Psoriasis
An autoimmune disorder that produces red, scaling plaques on the skin that can be associated with mild or severe forms of arthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis
A form of arthritis that is associated with psoriasis.
Pruritus
Medical term meaning itching from any cause.
Pustule
A tiny pus-filled bump on the skin. Many pustules can develop on the skin at once.
Pyoderma gangrenosum
Chronic ulcers in the skin often resulting from inflammation diseases inside the body such as inflammatory bowel disease.
Quinacrine
An antimalarial drug used in conjunction with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine to treat difficult cases of skin lupus or dermatomyositis. Quinacrine was previously available in the USA under the brand name "Atabrine." However, Atabrine is no longer available. Quinacrine must now be obtained through a compounding pharmacy (an old fashion type of pharmacy that still mixes medications to doctors orders and pours powders into capsules).
Raynaud's phenomenon
Cold-induced or emotion-induced spasm of vessels that supply blood to the fingertips, causing white, blue, and red discoloration of the fingertips associated with pain.
Retinopathy
An abnormality of or damage to the retina layer of the eye, the nervous layer that perceives light and transmits electrical impulses to the brain. Antimalarial drugs such as hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) and chloroquine (Aralen) have a small risk of causing a drug-induced retinopathy.
Rheumatic disease
A disease that involves pain or inflammation in the musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments). Lupus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and rheumatoid arthritis are considered to be rheumatic diseases. Such diseases frequently cause problems in the skin as well.
Rheumatic skin disease
Skin problems occurring as a result of rheumatic disease. Same meaning as "autoimmune connective tissue disease of the skin" or "connective tissue skin disease."
Rheumatoid arthritis
A severe form of autoimmune arthritis that can destroy joints and cripple, if not properly treated.
RNA
An abbreviation for ribonucleic acid - the molecules that translates the genetic code from DNA to produce proteins.
RNP antibody (U1RNP antibody)
An autoantibody seen in patients having features of lupus overlapping with other rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, and scleroderma. This autoantibody has also been associated with the mixed connective tissue disease syndrome.
Ro antibody (Ro/SS-A antibody)
An autoantibody that is seen in patients with certain forms of skin lupus such as subacute cutaneous LE and neonatal LE as well as Sjoegren'syndrome. Ro and La antibodies are usually seen to occur together in the same patient.
Se autoantibody
An antibody found most often in the blood of patients with clinically-amyopathic dermatomyositis.
Sensory neuropathy
numbness and tingling initially felt in the arms, legs, hands, and feet resulting from damage to the nerves that supply sensation to these areas of the body. Some drugs such as thalidomide can produce this problem as a side effect.
Scarring
Permanent disfigurement of tissues produced by some form of injury.
Scleroderma
A term literally meaning "hardening of the skin". This term is used to refer to that group of diseases that can cause only hardening of the skin or that can cause hardening of the skin in conjunction with hardening of tissues in vital organs inside the body such as the kidneys, the lungs, and the bowels.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
An autoimmune disease in which many different organs inside the body as well as the skin can be damaged. Sun sensitivity (photosensitivity) is a common feature of systemic lupus.
Systemic sclerosis
A term used to describe the form of scleroderma that commonly affects the internal organs such as the esophagus, lungs, and kidneys.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (Sed rate)
A laboratory test that measures the rate at which red blood cells settle in a test tube. The results of this test are abnormally elevated when inflammation is present somewhere in the body.
Sjoegren's syndrome
An autoimmune disease that damages the glands that produce tears and saliva, resulting in dryness of the eyes and dryness of the mouth. Patients with this difficult-to-diagnose disease often experience fatigue and symptoms of fibromyalgia. Some patients with this condition also develop other problems related to autoimmune injury in other parts of the body (e.g., skin, kidneys).
Sm antibody
An autoantibody found in the blood stream that is seen only in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Thus, it has great diagnostic value for SLE.
SMA-12, SMA-24
A battery of tests carried out simultaneously to determine the state of health of the body chemistry. In the past this was the most efficient way to gain large amounts of information about the status of body chemistry. This type of blood analysis is now being replaced by the the more cost-effective practice of ordering of individual tests rather than batteries of tests.
Stratum corneum
The outermost protective layer of the skin, approximately the thickness of a sheet of cellophane food wrap. When the stratum corneum dries out (for whatever reason) the skin takes on a dull, white, scaly appearance. The stratum corneum is replaced with a completely new stratum corneum every month.
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE)
A form of non-scarring, photosensitive lupus skin disease that can appear as red rings or as scaly plaques that can resemble psoriasis. Patients with SCLE frequently have Ro/SS-A autoantibodies in their blood.
Subcutaneous
The fatty layer of tissue under the dermal part of the skin.
Sun screen
Anything that blocks electromagnetic radiation such as ultraviolet light from entering the skin. Chemical sun screens absorb ultraviolet energy before it enters the skin while physical sun screens block or reflect UV radiation before it enters the skin.
Systemic
When used in a medical sense, a term that refers to the internal features of an illness (e.g., kidney disease, heart disease, lung disease). As in, "this young woman has systemic lupus erythematosus expressed predominantly as kidney and brain disease."
Systemic sclerosis
The type of scleroderma (hard skin) that can be associated with hardening of tissues inside the body, including the kidneys, the lungs, and the bowels. The form of systemic sclerosis that is associated with limited amount of skin disease is also known as the CREST syndrome and is generally a milder form of disease overall. The form of systemic sclerosis associated with diffused or generalized skin disease is the most severe form that can be fatal when severe internal organ involvement such as kidney, lung, bowel or heart disease is present.
T-cells
See T-lymphocytes.
Thalidomide
A drug with a notorious past that is currently used to treat difficult lupus skin disease. Modern research is showing that this drug can also be useful in treating a number of other skin and internal diseases as well (e.g., Behcet's disease, severe aphthous ulcers in the mouth, pyoderma gangrenosum, multiple myeloma). Unfortunately, this drug was responsible for an epidemic of babies born without arms or legs when it was first introduced in Europe and Canada in the 1960s. Another side effect is its tendency to cause damage to nerves that supply sensation to the arms and legs (i.e. sensory neuropathy).
Tissue
A functional unit of protein molecules. Usually several different forms of tissue are required to produce an organ, such as the kidney, brain or heart.
Topoisomerase 1 antibody (SCL-70 antibody)
A type of autoantibody found in the blood of patients with the more severe form of systemic sclerosis.
Tumid LE
Another name for "lupus erythematosus tumid."
Ulcer
A hole in the skin or other tissues.
Ultraviolet light
The component of radiation from the sun that damages skin tissue the most. The sunburning ultraviolet rays are known as UVB rays. The longer wave length UVA rays can also damage the skin in different ways, especially promoting wrinkles and premature aging. UVB rays especially aggravate lupus skin disease but some lupus patients are also sensitive to UVA rays.
Urinalysis
A test of urine to detect evidence of kidney disease or infection.
Urticarial vasculitis
Inflammation of the blood vessels in the dermal part of the skin that produces skin changes that have the appearance of hives.
Vasculitis
Inflammatory injury of blood vessels in the skin and other tissues. Most of the time, vasculitis lesions in the skin have the appearance of purple spots on the legs.
Vesicle
Tiny skin blisters usually occurring together in large numbers.
Virus
The most primitive type of infectious agent. Viruses must invade cells of humans or other animals in order to reproduce themselves. The most common viral infection is the common cold. Viral infections tend to be much harder to treat than bacterial (germ) infections.
Xerosis
Another term meaning "dry skin."
Xerotic eczema
Red irritable skin resulting from severe dryness of the skin.