Castleman disease is a rare condition that affects the lymph nodes and the immune system. It involves abnormal growth and inflammation of lymph nodes, leading to various health issues depending on the subtype and extent of involvement. There are different types of Castleman disease, each with distinct characteristics, causes, and clinical outcomes. What are the …
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Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (often called iMCD) is a rare disorder that involves an overactive immune system, leading to inflammation throughout the body. The disease affects multiple lymph nodes, causing them to enlarge and produce excessive amounts of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines. This results in symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and problems in several organs. …
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HHV8-associated multicentric Castleman disease (also called KSHV/HHV8-associated multicentric Castleman disease) is a condition in which the immune system creates a large number of abnormal cells called plasmablasts, due to infection by a virus known as human herpesvirus-8 (HHV8). This leads to enlarged lymph nodes, inflammation throughout the body, and systemic symptoms, such as fever and …
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Acute T cell-mediated rejection, also known as acute cellular rejection, is a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the transplanted kidney. This occurs because special immune cells, called T cells, mistakenly identify the transplanted organ as harmful or foreign. When this happens, the T cells enter the kidney tissue, leading to inflammation and damage to the …
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Systemic mastocytosis is a type of blood disease in which a specific type of white blood cell, called a mast cell, grows in an abnormal and uncontrolled way. Normally, mast cells are part of the body’s immune system and help fight infections, but in systemic mastocytosis, these abnormal mast cells accumulate and build up in …
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Mastocytosis is a rare group of conditions characterized by an abnormal buildup of mast cells in various parts of the body. Mast cells are a type of immune cell that plays a crucial role in allergic reactions and inflammation. Normally, mast cells help protect your body from infections, but in mastocytosis, these cells become overactive …
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Sézary syndrome is a rare type of cancer involving specific white blood cells called T cells. Normally, T cells help fight infections and diseases. In Sézary syndrome, these cells become cancerous and multiply out of control. The cancerous T cells, known as Sézary cells, exhibit a unique, folded appearance under the microscope. These abnormal cells …
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Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare, slow-growing form of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It occurs when your body produces an excessive number of abnormal white blood cells, specifically B cells. These abnormal cells have distinctive fine, hair-like projections visible under the microscope, which is why the disease is called “hairy …
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Mesangial sclerosis refers to scarring or hardening (sclerosis) of a specific area within the kidney known as the mesangium. The mesangium is a support structure within the glomeruli, tiny filters in the kidneys responsible for removing waste and excess fluid from your blood. When the mesangium becomes scarred, it can impair kidney function, leading to …
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Glomerulosclerosis is a condition characterized by scarring or hardening (sclerosis) of the tiny filters in the kidneys known as glomeruli. Normally, these structures help filter waste and excess fluid from your blood. When the glomeruli become scarred, they can’t perform their job effectively, which can eventually lead to impaired kidney function or kidney failure. What …
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