DESFERAL -
Noun: A drug used in Chelation Therapy which helps to remove the high levels of iron from a patients system. The numerous blood transfusions that a person with aplastic anaemia or myelodysplasia must have results, after a period of time, in high levels of iron which the body cannot remove on it's own. This can cause problems with the function of organs so must be dealt with. See haemosiderosis .

DIFFERENTIATION -
Verb: The act or process of acquiring completely individual characteristics, such as occurs when stem cells progress to become the various types of blood cells. Through differentiation, the stem cells create one of the many types blood cells.

Latin - dis = apart

Latin - ferre = carry

DIFLUCAN -
Noun: The trade name for the antifungal drug Fluconazole .

DISABILITY BENEFIT (or living allowance) -
Noun: If you have aplastic anaemia or myelodysplasia and you are not able to work, you may be eligible for both Disability Living Allowance and/or Incapacity Benefit (if you are living in England). You may also be eligible for Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. There will be someone at the hospital who will be able to give you the Benefit Agency's telephone number for your area. Phone them and they will send you the relevant forms. You will need form DLA1 and need to complete this. Also form SC1 if you are self-employed, unemployed or non-employed. You will need form SSP1 if you are an employee.

You must have a medical certificate (Med form 3) signed by your Doctor with the hospitals stamp on it . Without the stamp, they will send it back to you which will delay processing. Also, ensure the Doctor notes that you were not able to work from __(first day at hospital and not able to work)___ date until the current date or a future date. Future date is better as you will need to get another certificate filled in to cover dates not covered. Don't expect much, as the Disability Benefit currently pays only £52.60 per week as its basic. The Incapacity Benefit pays the same. You may get more if you need someone to care for you.

Also if you are paying National Insurance, you must get in touch with your local Inland Revenue office and have them sort this out. You should not be paying National Insurance if you are not working.

Also, as a word of advice, it is important to keep thorough records. Get a diary and write in the date you went into the hospital, make a copy of the medical certificates you get from the doctors and keep them in a file along with all correspondence with the Benefit agency. If you have hospital insurance, get in touch with them and get their forms filled in. Copy them all first and then send them off. People and organisations are not always as competent as we would like to believe and having backup records could save hassle.

DIURETIC -
Noun: A drug or an agent that causes an increase in the flow of urine. Your doctor will prescribe a diuretic if you are retaining too much water.

Adjective: Causing an increase in the flow of urine.

Greek - diá = through +

Greek - ourein = urinate

DYSPLASIA -
Noun: Any abnormality of growth. Abnormal cell features include the size, shape, and rate of multiplication.

Greek - dys = bad

Greek - plásis = a molding

EBMT -
Noun: Abbreviation for European Bone Marrow Transplant registry. BMT records are kept there.

ECCHYMOSES (ek' e mo' sis) -
Noun: A bruise. A discoloration caused by the breaking of tiny blood vessels underneath the skin, as in a bruise. With aplastic anaemia or myelodysplasia , the lack of platelets is easily noticed by the spontaneous bruising and the small reddish or purplish spots on the skin or inside the mouth called petechiae . After a platelet transfusion these mostly go away, but as the platelets only last for about 6 days, you may notice a new batch of ecchymoses (bruises) or petechiae occurring on your body after this time. Be careful not to bump yourself to cut down on the ecchymoses.

Greek - ex = out+

Greek - chymós = juice

EMLA CREAM -
Noun: A cream applied to the surface of the skin containing a mixture of local anaesthetics. It is particularly useful for children as it allows for painful tests and biopsies to be performed with minimal pain and discomfort.

ENGRAFTMENT -
Noun: When bone marrow that is infused during a BMT "takes" or is accepted by the patient and begins producing blood cells.

Latin - in - into, on, or upon

Greek - gráphein = to write

EOSINOPHIL -
Noun: One of the three granular white blood cells which have a role in protecting us against allergies. They increase in numbers in response to certain parasitic infections. It is named after a rose-red coal tar dye called eosin which easily stains it.

Greek - eôs = dawn (the rose-red colour)

Greek - philos = loving

EPO -
Noun: A drug which is a genetically engineered version of a natural hormone, erythropoietin , which stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. The synthetic version of the hormone, EPO, is used to treat severe anaemia. Also called Eprex and Epoetin. A research alert in May 1, 2001 stated that Epoetin alfa, reduces the need for transfusions although it did say that in patients with myelodysplastic conditions are less likely to respond and may need higher doses to achieve the same results.

From - erythropoietin

EPOETIN -
See EPO

ERYTHROBLAST -
Noun: A cell with a nucleus which is found in the bone marrow from which red blood cells (erythrocytes) develop. See picture of Haematopoiesis to see its relationship.

ERYTHROCYTE -
Noun: A red blood cell that is made in the bone marrow and occurs as a red disc, concave on both sides and full of haemoglobin . These cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to tissues and carbon dioxide away.

Greek - erythrós = red +

Greek - kytos = anything hollow.

ERYTHROID -
Adjective: Having to do with red blood cells.

Greek - erythrós = red +

Greek - oeides = in the form of

ERYTHROID ISLANDS -
Noun: Groups of red blood cells found in the bone marrow .

ERYTHROPOIESIS -
Noun: The production of red blood cells.

Adjective: Erythropoietic - Having to do with the production of red blood cells.

Greek - erythrós = red +

Greek - poiesis = production

ERYTHROPOIETIN INJECTION -
Noun: Erythropoietin is a hormone, produced by the kidneys, that controls the production of red blood cells. Red blood cell production can be increased after a bone marrow transplant or immunosuppressive therapy with injections of erythropoietin.

ETIOLOGY -
Noun: The science that deals with the theory, origins, or causes of diseases. Also the cause of a disease.

Greek - aitia = cause

Greek - légein = speak

EPREX 4000 -
See EPO

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