| cancer, breast, familial | A number of factors have been identified that increase the risk of breast cancer. One of the strongest of these risk factors is the history of breast cancer in a relative. About 15-20% of women with breast cancer have such a family history of the disease, clearly reflecting the participation of inherited (genetic) components in the development of some breast cancers. Dominant breast cancer suceptibility genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, appear responsible for about 5% of all breast cancer. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| familial breast cancer | <oncology> A number of factors have been identified that increase the risk of breast cancer. One of the strongest of these risk factors is the history of breast cancer in a relative. About15-20% of women with breast cancer have such a family history of the disease, clearly reflecting the participation of inherited (genetic) components in the development of some breast cancers. Dominant breast cancer suceptibility genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, appear responsible for about 5% of all breast cancer. See related entries to: Breast cancer susceptibility genes; BRCA1; BRCA2. There are 2 genes; BRCA1 and BRCA2 which are susceptibility genes for breast cancer. They are inherited factors that predispose to breast cancer. Put otherwise, these genes make one more susceptible to the disease and so increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Two of these genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, have been identified (and prominently publicised). Several other genes (those for the li-fraumeni syndrome, cowden disease, muir-torre syndrome, and ataxia-telangiectasia) are also known to predispose to breast cancer. However, since all of these known breast cancer susceptibility genes together do not account for more than a minor fraction (1/5th at most) of breast cancer that clusters in families, it is clear that more breast cancer genes remain to be discovered. (12 Dec 1998) |
| familial cancer | <oncology> One occurring in families more frequently than would be expected by chance. (09 Oct 1997) |
| benign familial chorea | A rare, nonprogressive movement disorder characterised by chorea and athetosis appearing in early childhood, most commonly manifested as gait ataxia and upper limb coordination. Intellect is unaffected. Probably autosomal-dominance inheritance with incomplete penetrance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| benign familial chronic pemphigus | Recurrent eruption of vesicles and bullae that become scaling and crusted lesions with vesicular borders, predominantly of the neck, groin, and axillary regions; autosomal dominant inheritance, presenting in late adolescence or early adult life. Synonym: Hailey-Hailey disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| benign familial icterus | Mild jaundice due to increased amounts of unconjugated bilirubin in the plasma without evidence of liver damage, biliary obstruction, or haemolysis; thought to be due to an inborn error of metabolism in which the excretion of bilirubin by the liver is defective, ascribed to decreased conjugation of bilirubin as a glucuronide or impaired uptake of hepatic bilirubin. Synonym: benign familial icterus, constitutional hepatic dysfunction, Gilbert's disease, Gilbert's syndrome, Hebra's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| paralysis, familial periodic | An autosomal dominant trait marked by recurring attacks of rapidly progressive flaccid paralysis. There are three types: I, associated with a fall in serum potassium levels (hypokalaemic periodic paralysis); II, associated with a rise therein (hyperkalaemic periodic paralysis, called also adynamia episodica hereditaria); and III, with normal levels (normokalaemic periodic paralysis). (12 Dec 1998) |
| pemphigus, benign familial | Rare hereditary disease characterised by recurrent eruptions of vesicles and bullae mainly on the neck, axillae, and groin. It exhibits autosomal dominant inheritance and is unrelated to pemphigus vulgaris though it closely resembles that disease. (12 Dec 1998) |
| chronic familial icterus | <haematology> A hereditary disorder that leads to a chronic haemolytic anaemia due to an abnormality in the red blood cell membrane. This disorder is caused by a defective gene. Red cells are resistant to stress and rupture easily. Infants may appear jaundiced and pale. Fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath are other symptoms that may be seen in older patients. The spleen may also be enlarged. Treatment includes splenectomy (removal of the spleen). After this is accomplished the life-span of the red blood cells returns to normal. (27 Sep 1997) |
| chronic familial jaundice | <haematology> A hereditary disorder that leads to a chronic haemolytic anaemia due to an abnormality in the red blood cell membrane. This disorder is caused by a defective gene. Red cells are resistant to stress and rupture easily. Infants may appear jaundiced and pale. Fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath are other symptoms that may be seen in older patients. The spleen may also be enlarged. Treatment includes splenectomy (removal of the spleen). After this is accomplished the life-span of the red blood cells returns to normal. (27 Sep 1997) |
| chronic familial polyneuritis | Inflammation of nerves related to infiltration by amyloid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mixed hyperlipoproteinaemia familial | Type 5 hyperlipidemia, elevations of VLDL and chylomicrons found in plasma. Synonym: mixed hyperlipidemia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| progressive familial scleroderma | A syndrome characterised by calcinosis cutis, Raynaud's phenomenon, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia; usually due to scleroderma; autosomal dominant form of progressive systemic sclerosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hypercholesterolaemia, familial | A familial disorder characterised by increased plasma concentration of cholesterol carried in low density lipoproteins (ldl) and by a deficiency in a cell surface receptor which regulates ldl degradation and cholesterol synthesis. It is frequently associated with arcus senilis and premature atherosclerosis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| hyperlipidemia, familial combined | A disorder genetically distinct from the other inherited hyperlipidemias characterised by the type II or type IV lipoprotein pattern (the pattern may change from time to time and the lipid level may be normal at one time and abnormal at another time). (12 Dec 1998) |