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Diseases » Common Variable Immunodeficiency » Glossary

Glossary for Common Variable Immunodeficiency

AIDS: A term given to HIV patients who have a low CD4 count (below 200) which means that they have low levels of a type of immune cell called T-cells. AIDS patients tend to develop opportunistic infections and cancers. Opportunistic infections are infections that would not normally affect a person with a healthy immune system. The HIV virus is a virus that attacks the body's immune system.
APECED Syndrome: APECED is a recessively inherited genetic disease characterized by the presence of two of the following three conditions: impaired parathyroid function, yeast infection (candidiasis) and impaired adrenal gland function (Addison's disease). It is an autoimmune disease resulting from a genetic defect. The body's immune system malfunctions and attacks it's own body tissues.
Anemia: Reduced ability of blood to carry oxygen from various possible causes.
Autoimmune diseases: A group of disorders in which the primary cause is the an inflammatory reaction caused by the body's own immune system attacking tissues
Bronchitis: Bronchitis is an inflammation of the air passages within the lungs. It occurs when the trachea and the large and small bronchi within the lungs become inflamed
Cancer: Abnormal overgrowth of body cells.
Chromosome 22 monosomy syndrome: A rare chromosomal disorder where there is only one copy of chromosome 22 in the body cells instead of two which results in various physical and mental abnormalities.
Chronic Granulomatous Disease: A very rare inherited blood disorder where certain cells involved with immunity (phagocytes) are unable to destroy bacteria and hence the patient suffers repeated bacterial infections.
Colorectal cancer: Cancer of the colon (bowel) or rectum.
Diarrhea, Glucose-Stimulated Secretory, with Common Variable Immunodeficiency: A rare condition (described in one patient) characterized by severe diarrhea and immunodeficiency.
Digestive symptoms: Any symptoms affecting the digestive tract.
Ear infection: An infection that affects the ear
Giardia: Contagious parasitic digestive infection
HIV/AIDS: HIV is a sexually transmitted virus and AIDS is the progressive immune failure that HIV causes.
Hyper-IgM Syndrome: A rare inherited immunodeficiency disorder which causes frequent infections involving the ears, eyes, sinuses, lungs, skin, respiratory tract and other areas of the body.
Immune deficiency conditions: Any of various diseases that suppress the immune system.
Immune disorders: Disorders that affect the immune system
Joint swelling: One or more swollen joints
Knee swelling: Swelling of the knee joint
Lung symptoms: Symptoms affecting one or both lungs.
Lymphangiectasies and lymphedema Hennekam type: A rare disorder characterized by buildup of lymphatic fluid in the limbs, face and genitals, seizures and mental and growth retardation.
Lymphoedema - lymphangiectasia - mental retardation: A rare disorder characterized by buildup of lymphatic fluid in the limbs, face and genitals, seizures and mental and growth retardation.
Lymphoma: Cancer involving lymph nodes and the immune system.
Malabsorption syndrome: is an alteration in the ability of the intestine to absorb nutrients adequately into the bloodstream
Opportunistic infections: Is defined as an infection that occurs due to an organism that does not usually cause disease but becomes pathogenic under certain conditions
Pneumonia: Infection of the lung by bacteria, viruses or fungus.
Primary Immune Deficiency: Various types of immune deficiencies; usually genetic.
Respiratory tract infections:
Rheumatoid arthritis: Autoimmune form of arthritis usually in teens or young adults.
SCID: Major failure of the immune system, usually genetic.
Selective IgA Deficiency: Immune deficiency from lacking immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies.
Sinusitis: Sinusitis is an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses.
Ulcerative colitis: Ulcerative colitis (Colitis ulcerosa, UC) is a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis is a form of colitis, a disease of the intestine, specifically the large intestine or colon, that includes characteristic ulcers, or open sores, in the colon.
X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia: Immune deficiency from lack of antibodies.