S-ADENOSYLMETHIONINE (SAM-E, METHIONINE): a natural compound found in cells and available as a nutritional supplement.
SAFER SEX: sexual activities that reduce or eliminate the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, typically by blocking contact with semen and/or vaginal fluid.
SALVAGE THERAPY: emergency treatment with experimental drugs for an illness that does not respond to standard therapy.
SAM-E: see s-adenosylmethionine.
SAMPLE SIZE: the number of participants in a clinical trial.
SARCOIDOSIS: an autoimmune condition characterized by granulomas (small nodules of cells); the condition may affect the lungs, skin, eyes, liver, and other organs.
SARGRAMOSTIM: see granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.
SCHISANDRA (WU WEI ZI): a plant used in traditional Chinese and Russian medicine to treat liver conditions.
SCLERODERMA: an autoimmune condition characterized by hardened skin and connective tissue.
SEIZURE: a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITOR (SSRI): a psychotropic drug (e.g., Prozac, Zoloft) used to relieve depression; SSRI drugs act by moderating levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
SELENIUM: a trace mineral that acts as an antioxidant.
SEMEN: male ejaculatory fluid containing sperm and various proteins.
SENSITIVITY: the ability of an organism to respond to a drug or other agent. Sensitivity also refers to a statistical measure of the accuracy of a screening test, that is, how likely a test is to label as positive those who have a disease or condition. Contrast with specificity.
SEPSIS: infection.
SEROCONVERSION: the development of antibodies against a pathogen; the change in a person’s antibody status from negative to positive.
SERONEGATIVE: lack of antibodies against a pathogen in the blood.
SEROPOSITIVE: presence of antibodies against a pathogen in the blood.
SEROSTATUS: the presence or absence of antibodies against a pathogen in the blood.
SERUM: the fluid, noncellular portion of blood that remains after coagulation; lymphatic fluid. See also plasma.
SERUM HEPATITIS: see hepatitis B.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE (STD, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTION, STI, VENEREAL DISEASE): a disease (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, HIV) that is transmitted through sexual contact.
SGOT: serum oxaloacetic transaminase. See aspartate aminotransferase.
SGPT: serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase. See alanine aminotransferase.
SHEDDING: release of infectious particles (e.g., bacteria, viruses) into the environment.
SHO-SAIKO-TO: a traditional herbal liver formula containing bupleurum.
SIALADENITIS: Sialadenitis is an inflammatory disease that causes dry mouth and eyes and is associated with hepatitis C infection. Sialadenitis destroys the salivary glands.
SIDE EFFECT: see adverse reaction.
SILIBIN: an active component of milk thistle.
SILYMARIN: see milk thistle.
SIMEPREVIR:(brand name OLYSIO) is used to treat chronic hepatitis C in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Simeprevir is a hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor. Simeprevir plus sofosbuvir and ribavirin is used to treat genotype 1.
SINUSOIDS: cavities through hepatic or liver tissue allowing exchange of nutrients and other substances between blood and hepatocytes (liver cells).
SJÖGREN’S SYNDROME: an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks fluid-producing exocrine glands, leading to dry eyes, mouth, vagina, etc.
SOC: see standard of care.
SODIUM: an element and electrolyte and a component of salt that helps to regulate cell fluid balance.
SOFOSBUVIR: (brand names HARVONI: SOVALDI) is used to treat chronic hepatitis C.
SOVALDI: see sofosbuvir.
SQ: see subcutaneous.
SPECIFICITY: a statistical measure of the accuracy of a screening test. Specificity measures the proportion of negatives which are correctly identified (e.g., the percentage of healthy people who are correctly identified as not having the condition). Contrast with sensitivity.
SPIDER ANGIOMA: a mass of visible veins on the skin surface; may be a symptom of chronic liver damage.
SPLEEN: an immune system organ located in the abdominal cavity. The spleen produces blood cell in the fetus, and later removes old red blood cells and platelets from circulation.
SPLENOMEGALY: enlargement of the spleen.
SPONTANEOUS BACTERIAL PERITONTIS: bacterial infection of ascitic fluid in the abdominal cavity.
SSRI: see selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
STAGE I: the earliest stage of liver damage, characterized by liver inflammation without fibrosis or cirrhosis.
STAGE II: a stage of liver damage characterized by fibrosis in a single area of the liver.
STAGE III: a stage of liver damage characterized by fibrosis in adjacent areas of the liver.
STAGE IV: the most advanced stage of liver damage, characterized by cirrhosis and loss of normal liver architecture.
STANDARD INTERFERON: the type of interferon-alpha traditionally used to treat HCV. Brand names include Intron-A and Roferon-A. Also see pegylated interferon.
STANDARD OF CARE: the level of care that all persons with a particular illness should receive; the level below which care would be considered substandard.
STANDARD THERAPY: the best or most widely used currently available treatment for a disease.
STATISTICAL SIGNIFICANCE: the probability that a clinical trial result is not due to chance alone. In general, a result of a clinical trial is considered statistically significant if there is a less than 5% probability that the difference observed would occur by chance alone if the treatments being compared were equally effective.
STI: see sexually transmitted disease.
STD: see sexually transmitted disease.
STEATOSIS: buildup of fat tissue in the liver.
STENOSIS: narrowing or tightening of an opening or passage in the body.
STEROID: a family of substances that share a similar chemical structure, including certain hormones (e.g., testosterone) and various drugs.
STROKE (CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT): interruption of the normal flow of blood to the brain due to a blood clot or hemorrhage. Lack of blood flow can lead to brain damage (resulting in symptoms such paralysis) and death.
SUBCLINICAL: disease symptoms that are too subtle to be noticed by a patient, but may be apparent in laboratory results.
SUBCUTANEOUS (SQ): underneath the skin; usually refers to a drug injected under the skin.
SUBJECT: a volunteer participant in a clinical trial.
SUBTHERAPEUTIC: a drug dosage that is too low to be effective.
SUBTYPE: a genetic variation of an organism. Subtypes are a more narrow classification than genotypes, but broader than quasispecies. Genotype 1 HCV is divided into subtypes 1a and 1b.
SUPERINFECTION: the acquisition of a second infection while a previous infection is still present.
SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE: an enzyme that destroys free radicals.
SUPPLEMENT: a nutrient, usually in pill form, taken in addition to the normal diet.
SUPPORT GROUP: a group of peers with a common condition that meet for mutual emotional support or education.
SURROGATE MARKER: see endpoint.
SUSCEPTIBLE: vulnerable to or potentially able to contract a disease. Also refers to a microorganism that is vulnerable or sensitive to the effects of a drug.
SUSTAINED RESPONDER: a person who maintains a long-term response to treatment. In HCV, a sustained responder has a long-term response (e.g., normal ALT levels, undetectable HCV RNA) that persists after treatment is stopped.
SUSTAINED VIROLOGICAL RESPONSE (SVR): HCV RNA is undetectable at Week 24 post-treatment. Also called a viral cure.
SVR: see sustained virological response:
SVR12: no virus detected at 12 weeks after completion of treatment.
SVR24: no virus detected at 24 weeks after completion of treatment.
SYMMETREL: see amantadine.
SX: see symptoms.
SYMPTOM (SX): any perceptible change in the anatomy or function of the body that indicates the presence of a disease or condition.
SYMPTOMATIC: showing outward signs or symptoms of a disease.
SYNDROME: a set of symptoms or disease manifestations that occur together.
SYNERGY (SYNERGISM, adjective SYNERGISTIC): an interaction between drugs that produces an effect greater than the expected additive effect of the different drugs used separately.
SYNERGISTIC EFFECT: The interaction of two or more drugs such that their combined effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects when each drug is administered alone.
SYSTEMIC: affecting the whole body.
SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (LUPUS): an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of connective tissue throughout the body, especially in the joints.
SYNTHESIS: production.
