myfortic®- Kidney Transplant Medication-Glossary of Terms

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

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 medications administered to prevent rejection.

Allograft (allogeneic graft or homograft)
A graft between 2 individuals who are of the same species (eg, human) but have genetic differences.

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

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

Arteriogram
An X-ray of the arteries taken with the aid of a dye.

Atherosclerosis
The disease in which plaque builds up on the inner walls of the arteries, causing narrowing or blockage that can reduce blood flow to the major organs. Commonly known as "hardening of the arteries."

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

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 by the kidney. Your BUN value represents how well the kidneys function.

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.

CellCept®
An immunosuppressive drug used with other immunosuppressants to prevent the rejection of the transplanted organ. Also known by its chemical name, mycophenolate mofetil.

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.

Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)
See Peritoneal dialysis.

Corticosteroids
Hormones secreted by the adrenal gland. Corticosteroids can be 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.

Cyclosporine
The immunosuppressive ingredient in NEORAL® (cyclosporine, USP) MODIFIED and SANDIMMUNE® (cyclosporine, USP), an earlier form of cyclosporine. NEORAL and SANDIMMUNE are not bioequivalent and cannot be used interchangeably. See NEORAL or SANDIMMUNE.

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 or Peritoneal dialysis.

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

Effector/Suppressor 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. See Helper T cell.

Enteric coating
A special coating on tablets that allows delayed release of the medication in the intestines rather than in the stomach.

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 or a short course of antibiotics.

Glucose
A type of sugar found in the blood.

Graft
A transplanted tissue or organ (eg, 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.

Helper T cell
The specialized white blood cell that helps stimulate other parts of the immune system to combat infection or foreign material. See Effector/suppressor T cell.

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

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

Hepatologist
A physician 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.

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

Immunosuppression
Prevention or suppression of immune response. Transplant patients receive immunosuppressive drugs in order to prevent graft rejection.

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

Intravenous (IV)
Literally, into or within a vein; also refers to fluids and medications that are injected into a vein through a needle or catheter.

Kidney
One of the 2 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 production of urine.

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

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

Microemulsion
A suspension or mixture of tiny droplets of one liquid in a second liquid, such as the mixture that is formed when NEORAL combines with fluids in the digestive system.

Mycophenolate mofetil
See CellCept.

Mycophenolic acid (MPA)
The active ingredient in myfortic that causes immunosuppression.

Neoplasm
An abnormal tissue growth, usually in the form of a tumor that can be either harmless (benign) or cancerous (malignant).

NEORAL
NEORAL is available as a soft gelatin capsule and as an oral solution. It is a formulation of cyclosporine with increased bioavailability as compared with SANDIMMUNE. Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressive drug, used with other immunosuppressive drugs, that acts specifically to inhibit helper T cells, thereby helping to prevent the rejection of a transplanted organ. NEORAL and SANDIMMUNE are not bioequivalent and cannot be used interchangeably without physician supervision.

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

Noncompliance
Failure to follow the instructions of one's healthcare providers; for example, not taking medicine as prescribed or not showing up for clinic visits.

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

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

Prescription
A medication or course of therapy recommended by a physician.

Regimen
A prescribed course of therapy that may include one or many medications.

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

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

SANDIMMUNE
An earlier formulation of cyclosporine. Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressive drug, used with other immunosuppressive drugs, that acts specifically to inhibit helper T cells, thereby helping to prevent the rejection of a transplanted organ. SANDIMMUNE and NEORAL are not bioequivalent and cannot be used interchangeably without physician supervision. SANDIMMUNE is available as a soft gelatin capsule, oral solution, and intravenous solution.

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

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

Tissue typing
A blood test (performed prior to transplantation) to evaluate the closeness of tissue match between donor´s organ and recipient´s HLA antigens. See HLA system.

Transplant Learning Center (TLC)
A newsletter program for transplant recipients, developed and supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.