Glossary
Sacroiliac: The joint where the spine attaches to the pelvis.
Scleroderma: An umbrella term for several diseases that involve the abnormal growth of connective tissue. In most cases, the effects of this overgrowth are limited to the skin and underlying tissues, but in others, tissue overgrowth can affect the joints, blood vessels and internal organs.
Selective estrogen receptor molecules (SERMs): A group of medications that work much like the natural hormone estrogen to slow bone loss, but lack estrogen's side effects on uterine and breast tissues.
SERMS: A group of medications that work much like the natural hormone estrogen to slow bone loss, but lack estrogen's side effects on uterine and breast tissues.
Seronegative: Characterized by a negative test for rheumatoid factor. Although the majority of people with rheumatoid arthritis test positive for rheumatoid factor, as many as 25 percent do not. Their disease, therefore, is called seronegative.
Seropositive: Characterized by a positive test for rheumatoid factor. The majority of people with rheumatoid arthritis test positive for rheumatoid factor, making the test result useful as part of a diagnostic workup for the disease.
Serositis: Inflammation of the lining of some of the organs, such as the heart and lungs.
Sjogren's syndrome: A disease in which the immune system attacks the moisture-producing glands of the body, causing dryness of the eyes, mouth and other tissues. The syndrome can occur on its own or in conjunction with an inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
Splint: Devices made from metal, plastic, cloth or moldable foam that are used to support or stabilize a joint or to position a joint in a way that prevents further irritation or injury to joint or soft tissues surrounding it.
Spondylarthropathy: The collective name for a family of musculoskeletal disorders that primarily affect the spine and joints where the spine attaches to the pelvis. The spondylarthropathies include ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis and arthritis that accompanies inflammatory bowel disease.
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