| acute granulocytic leukaemia | <haematology> A form of leukaemia which is characterised by the proliferation of immature white blood cells (granulocytes) in the bloodstream. Occurs primarily in adults and in infants under 1 year of age. Complications include abnormal bleeding and susceptibility to infections. Symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, fevers, weakness, pallor, bone pains, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, easy bruising, enlarged lymph nodes and joint pains. Treatment includes chemotherapy and/or bone marrow transplant. Origin: Gr. Haima = blood (27 Sep 1997) |
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| leukemia | <haematology> An acute or chronic disease of unknown cause in man and other warm blooded animals that involves the blood forming organs, is characterised by an abnormal increase in the number of leucocytes in the tissues of the body with or without a corresponding increase of those in the circulating blood and is classified according of the type leucocyte most prominently involved. (18 Nov 1997) |
| granulocytic leukaemia | <haematology, tumour> A form of leukaemia characterised by an uncontrolled proliferation of myelopoietic cells in the bone marrow and in extramedullary sites, and the presence of large numbers of immature and mature granulocytic forms in various tissues (and organs) and in the circulating blood. The total count may range from 1000 (aleukaemic variety) to several hundred thousand per cu mm. The predominant cell is usually of the neutrophilic series, but, in a few instances, eosinophilic or basophilic granulocytes, or even megakaryocytes, may represent the chief form; early in granulocytic leukaemia, the circulating blood may contain excessive numbers of all of the granulocytic forms. Synonym: leukaemic myelosis, myelocytic leukaemia, myelogenic leukaemia, myelogenous leukaemia, myeloid leukaemia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| granulocytic sarcoma | <tumour> A malignant tumour of immature myeloid cells, frequently subperiosteal, associated with or preceding granulocytic leukaemia. See: chloroma. Synonym: myeloid sarcoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| granulocytic series | <haematology> The cells in the several stages of development in the bone marrow leading to the mature granulocyte of the circulation, e.g., myeloblasts, different stages of the myelocyte, granulocytes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic granulocytic leukaemia | <haematology> A leukaemia which is initially slowly-progressing. There are approximately 650 new cases each year in the UK. It is characterised by the presence of large numbers of abnormal mature granulocytes, circulating in the blood. Synonym: chronic granulocytic leukaemia. Acronym: CML Origin: Gr. Haima = blood (12 Jan 1998) |
| human granulocytic ehrlichiosis | A form of ehrlichiosis in a patient with a history of tick bite. Characterised by leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and mild liver damage. (Thought to be predominantly a granulocytic form of ehrlichiosis.) The species of Ehrlichia that is the agent of this disease is unknown at present. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abdomen, acute | Clinical syndrome characterised by abdominal pain of great severity associated with other symptoms and signs, usually those of acute peritonitis, which might well be the result of a ruptured abdominal viscus or a similar abdominal catastrophe requiring urgent surgical operation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| acute | 1. Sharp, poignant. 2. Having a short and relatively severe course. Origin: L. Acutus = sharp (18 Nov 1997) |
| acute abdomen | Any serious acute intra-abdominal condition (such as appendicitis) attended by pain, tenderness, and muscular rigidity, and for which emergency surgery must be considered. Synonym: surgical abdomen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute abscess | A recently formed abscess with little or no fibrosis in the wall of the cavity. Synonym: hot abscess. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute adrenal crisis | <endocrinology> An abrupt life-threatening state which is caused by insufficient production of cortisol by the adrenal gland. A typical finding in Addison's disease. Individuals who have been taking corticosteroids (glucocorticoids) for a prolonged period of time (weeks to months) are at risk for acute adrenal crisis if the medication is stopped abruptly. For this reason, corticosteroid medication are withdrawn slowly on a diminishing dosing schedule. Symptoms include low blood pressure (shock), weakness, headache, vomiting, fever chills, tachycardia and sweating. Treatment includes blood pressure support and intravenous hydrocortisone. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acute adrenocortical insufficiency | Severe adrenocortical insufficiency when an intercurrent illness or trauma causes an increased demand for adrenocortical hormones in a patient with adrenal insufficiency due to disease or use of relatively large amounts of similar hormones as therapy; characterised by nausea, vomiting, hypotension, and frequently hyperthemia, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, and hypoglycaemia; can be fatal if untreated. Synonym: addisonian crisis, adrenal crisis, Bernard-Sergent syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute African sleeping sickness | A disease of humans caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in eastern Africa from Ethiopia and Uganda south to Zimbabwe; it is clinically similar to Gambian trypanosomiasis but of shorter duration and more acute in form; patients suffer repeated episodes of pyrexia, become anaemic, and die commonly from cardiac failure. Synonym: acute African sleeping sickness, acute trypanosomiasis, East African sleeping sickness, East African trypanosomiasis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute alcoholism | A temporary deterioration in mental function, accompanied by muscular incoordination and paresis, induced by the rapid ingestion of alcoholic beverages. Synonym: intoxication. (05 Mar 2000) |