Arthritis Glossary – B & C
Benign Hypermobility joint syndrome (BHJS)
A common source of joint or muscle complaints by children and young adults. Benign hypermobility describes looseness of joints that may be associated with daytime pain, nighttime awakening, or discomfort after exercise.
Bioelectric Therapy
The delivery of a precise dose of bioelectric current through electrodes placed on the skin. These currents cause a biological change and interrupt pain signals to the brain. Bioelectric therapy relieves pain by blocking pain messages to the brain.
Biopsy
The removal of a tissue sample for analysis
Bursa — A sac filled with lubricating fluid, located between tissues—such as bone, muscle, tendons, and skin—to decrease rubbing, friction, and irritation.
Bursitis
Inflammation or irritation of the bursa
Calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystals
Crystals that form in the cartilage (cushioning material between the bones) during a sudden illness, joint injury, or surgery and are later released into the joint fluid. When CPP crystals are released into the joint, they can cause a sudden attack of arthritis, called pseudogout, that is similar to gout. People with overfunctioning parathyroid glands often get this condition.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
A condition that occurs when the median nerve, which relays sensation from the palm of the hand and fingers, becomes pinched, usually from swelling of the tendons. This leads to numbness and sometimes pain in the fingers and hand, and sometimes the forearm or even shoulder. Carpal tunnel syndrome may result from long-term, repetitive motion in the fingers, wrist or arm, or from other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, hyperthyroidism, and multiple myeloma.
Cartilage
A firm, rubbery material that covers the ends of bones in normal joints. Its main function is to reduce friction in the joints and serve as a "shock absorber."
Central nervous system
The brain and spinal cord
Chemotherapy
In cancer treatment, chemotherapy refers to particular drugs used to kill or slow the reproduction of rapidly multiplying cells. In rheumatology, chemotherapy is designed to decrease the abnormal behavior of cells, rather than kill cells. The doses of medication used for rheumatic or autoimmune conditions are lower than the doses used for cancer treatment.
Churg Strauss vasculitis (CSV)
An extremely rare disease that results from inflammation of the blood vessels and causes injury to many organ systems. The areas most commonly involved are the nose, sinuses, lungs, heart, intestinal tract, and nerves. CSV also is known as Churg Strauss syndrome, allergic angiitis, and granulomatosis.
Chondroitin
A normal component of cartilage and a nutritional supplement that may help rebuild cartilage and relieve pain in some people with osteoarthritis
Chronic illness
An illness that is ongoing and long-term
Clophosphamide (Cytoxan)
A chemotherapy drug that is sometimes used to treat autoimmune disorders
Collateral blood vessels
Alternate routes of blood flow
Complement
A system is made up of a network of proteins that involve the immune system and inflammation. Decreased levels of various components of complement—C3, C4 or CH50—can be found in people with lupus and certain other autoimmune conditions.
Computed axial tomography (CAT scan)
A process using X-rays and computers to produce images of internal organs, including large blood vessels
Corticosteroids
Drugs that suppress the abnormal cells of the immune system, working to decrease the inflammation and pain. Often called "steroids," drugs in this category are prednisone or prednisolone. These drugs are structurally similar to hydrocortisone, which is produced by the normal adrenal gland.
Cortisone
A potent anti-inflammatory corticosteroid that may be given as an injection (shot) to decrease swelling and relieve pain
Counter-force brace
An elastic band that wraps around the forearm just below the injured elbow (tendon) to help relieve pain associated with tennis elbow
COX-2 inhibitors
A newer type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that relieve inflammation with a decreased chance of gastrointestinal side effects that can occur with older NSAIDs, especially stomach bleeding
C-reactive protein (CRP)
A protein that indicates the amount of inflammation present in the body
Creatine phosphokinase (CK)
A muscle enzyme. If CK is high, it suggests that there is an inflammatory muscle disease. Higher levels of CK from muscle also can be found after trauma, injections into a muscle, and muscle disease due to an under-active thyroid.
Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide)
A chemotherapy drug used to treat the most aggressive and dangerous rheumatic diseases, such as severe systemic lupus erythematosus and some forms of vasculitis.
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