Canadian Medical Guide > Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment > Therapeutics > Biological Therapy Terms and Definitions

Biological Therapy

Medical Definition:	Treatment of disease by the administration of substances which produce a biological reaction in the organism. It includes the use of sera, antitoxins, vaccines, cells, tissues, and organs. (From Dorland, 28th ed)
Guide Notes:	GEN or unspecified; prefer specifics; DF: BIOL THER

Biological Therapy Categories.

	Blood Patch, Epidural - The injection of autologous blood into the epidural space either as a prophylactic treatment immediately following an epidural puncture or for treatment of headache as a result of an epidural puncture.
	Blood Transfusion - The introduction of whole blood or blood component directly into the blood stream. (Dorland, 27th ed)
	Cytapheresis - Separation of one or more kinds of cells from whole blood with the return of other blood cell constituents to the patient or donor. This is accomplished with an instrument that uses centrifugation to separate the cells into different layers based on the differences in cell density (displacement) or drag coefficients in a current (elutriation). The procedure is commonly used in adoptive transfer to isolate NK cells, lymphocytes, or monocytes.
	Gene Therapy - The introduction of new genes into cells for the purpose of treating disease by restoring or adding gene expression. Techniques include insertion of retroviral vectors, transfection, homologous recombination, and injection of new genes into the nuclei of single cell embryos. The entire gene therapy process may consist of multiple steps. The new genes may be introduced into proliferating cells in vivo (e.g., bone marrow) or in vitro (e.g., fibroblast cultures) and the modified cells transferred to the site where the gene expression is required. Gene therapy may be particularly useful for treating enzyme deficiency diseases, hemoglobinopathies, and leukemias and may also prove useful in restoring drug sensitivity, particularly for leukemia.
	Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization - The release of stem cells from the bone marrow into the peripheral blood circulation for the purpose of leukapheresis, prior to stem cell transplantion. Hematopoietic growth factors or chemotherapeutic agents often are used to stimulate the mobilization.
	Immunotherapy - Manipulation of the host's immune system in treatment of disease. It includes both active and passive immunization as well as immunosuppressive therapy to prevent graft rejection.
	Organotherapy - Historically, the treatment of disease by the administration of animal organs or their extracts (after Brown-Sequard). At present synthetic preparations substitute for the extracts of a gland. (From Stedman, 26th ed)

Biological Therapy Medical Definitions and Terms

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