Glossary
-
Autoinflammatory disease:
an illness in which the body's control of inflammation is not functioning properly, leading to uncontrolled inflammation.
-
Biologic:
a product made from living cells that is used to treat diseases.
-
Cryopyrin:
a specific type of protein produced by the NLRP3 gene that is found in the fluid of white blood cells and cartilage-forming cells.
-
Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes:
a group of rare and genetic diseases that includes Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome (FCAS) and Muckle-Wells Syndrome (MWS).
-
Cytokine:
a protein produced by the body that interacts with the cells of the immune system to help fight infection. When the body produces too much of a cytokine, it can cause inflammation and tissue destruction.
-
Disease:
a condition of a body part, organ, or system that occurs due to genetics, infection, or the environment and that typically presents with a specific group of symptoms.
-
Familial Cold Autoinflammatory Syndrome:
an autoinflammatory disease in a group of rare diseases called Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS). It is also known as FCAS.
-
Flare:
the worsening and increase in severity of disease symptoms.
-
Genetic:
of or relating to the genes or heredity, meaning it can be passed down in families.
-
Immune system:
the body's natural defense system that protects against any material foreign to the body.
-
Inflammation:
the body's way of protecting itself against infection or injury. When someone has the condition called Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS), inflammation occurs without infection or injury.
-
Injection:
usually referred to as "a shot," an injection puts medication into the body using a syringe.
-
Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β):
a protein that the immune system produces to fight disease with inflammation. The production of too much IL-1β is harmful to the body.
-
Muckle-Wells Syndrome:
an autoinflammatory disease in a group of rare diseases called Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS). It is also known as MWS.
-
Pediatric Rheumatologist:
a doctor who specializes in treating children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases, including arthritis, many autoimmune diseases, and many autoinflammatory diseases.
-
Periodic Fever Syndromes:
a group of rare, autoinflammatory diseases that are characterized by symptoms including recurrent fevers, rash, pain, and joint inflammation.
-
Rare disease:
an uncommon illness that affects very few people.
-
Symptoms:
a description of the way you are feeling due to an illness.