| hepatic failure | A condition of severe end-stage liver dysfunction that is accompanied by a decline in mental status that may range from confusion (hepatic encephalopathy) to unresponsiveness (hepatic coma). Other features include a mousy odour to the breath, difficulty with balance and walking, tremor and impaired speech. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| acute kidney failure | <nephrology> A sudden decline in renal function may be triggered by a number of acute disease processes. Examples include sepsis (infection), shock, trauma, kidney stones, kidney infection, drug toxicity (aspirin or lithium), poisons or toxins (drug abuse) or after injection with an iodinated contrast dye (adverse effect). Chronic renal failure represents a slow decline in kidney function over time. Chronic renal failure may be caused by a number of disorders which include long-standing hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, lupus or sickle cell anaemia. Both forms of renal failure result in a life-threatening metabolic derangement. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acute renal failure | <nephrology> A sudden decline in renal function may be triggered by a number of acute disease processes. Examples include sepsis (infection), shock, trauma, kidney stones, kidney infection, drug toxicity (aspirin or lithium), poisons or toxins (drug abuse) or after injection with an iodinated contrast dye (adverse effect). Chronic renal failure represents a slow decline in kidney function over time. Chronic renal failure may be caused by a number of disorders which include long-standing hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, lupus or sickle cell anaemia. Both forms of renal failure result in a life-threatening metabolic derangement. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acute respiratory failure | Loss of pulmonary function either acute or chronic that results in hypoxaemia or hypercarbia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| kidney failure, acute | A clinical syndrome characterised by a sudden decrease in glomerular filtration rate, often to values of less than 1 to 2 ml per minute. It is usually associated with oliguria (urine volumes of less than 400 ml per day) and is always associated with biochemical consequences of the reduction in glomerular filtration rate such as a rise in blood urea nitrogen (bun) and serum creatinine concentrations. (12 Dec 1998) |
| liver failure, acute | A form of liver failure with rapid onset. It is often induced by the toxic effect of drugs and various toxic substances in experimental studies in animals and in clinical states in humans. If coma ensues, the constellation of neurological symptoms is referred to as hepatic encephalopathy. (12 Dec 1998) |
| subacute | Somewhat acute, between acute and chronic. (18 Nov 1997) |
| subacute bacterial endocarditis | Subacute bacterial endocarditis is usually due to Streptococcus viridans or S. Fecalis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| subacute care | Medical and skilled nursing services provided to patients who are not in an acute phase of an illness but who require a level of care higher than that provided in a long-term care setting. (jcaho, lexikon, 1994) (12 Dec 1998) |
| subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord | A subacute or chronic disorder of the spinal cord, such as that occurring in certain patients with vitamin B12 deficiency, characterised by a slight to moderate degree of gliosis in association with spongiform degeneration of the posterior and lateral columns. Synonym: combined sclerosis, combined system disease, funicular myelitis, Putnam-Dana syndrome, vitamin B12 neuropathy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| subacute glomerulonephritis | Undesirable term for glomerulonephritis with proteinuria, haematuria and azotemia persisting for many weeks; renal changes are variable, including those of rapidly progressive and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Synonym: subacute nephritis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| subacute granulomatous thyroiditis | Thyroiditis with round cell (usually lymphocytes) infiltration, destruction of thyroid cells, epithelial giant cell proliferation, and evidence of regeneration; thought by some to be a reflection of a systemic infection and not an example of true chronic thyroiditis. Synonym: de Quervain's thyroiditis, giant cell thyroiditis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| subacute hepatitis | <pathology> This is a form of continuing liver inflammation that results in liver cell death. Causes include viral infection (hepatitis D, hepatitis B, hepatitis C), autoimmune disease, drug ingestion or metabolic causes. Chronic active hepatitis will lead to hepatic failure and death in a small percentage of these patients. (27 Sep 1997) |
| subacute inclusion body encephalitis | <neurology> Chronic progressive illness seen in children a few years after measles infection and involving demyelination of the cerebral cortex. Virus apparently persists in brain cells: usually considered a slow virus disease. (18 Nov 1997) |
| subacute inflammation | An inflammation that is intermediate in duration between that of an acute inflammation and that of a chronic inflammation, usually persisting longer than 3 or 4 weeks. (05 Mar 2000) |