| acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia | <haematology> A form of leukaemia which is characterised by the proliferation of immature bone marrow precursor cells in the marrow and 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. Trisomy-8 is the most common cytogenetic abnormality observed, followed by monosomy-7 and monosomy-5. Approximately 8% of cases show trisomy-8, mostly in AML (M1), AM (M4) and acute monocytic leukaemia (M5). Many pre-leukaemic conditions, acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia and secondary leukemia show monosomy-7 or deletion of the long arm of chromosome 7. Treatment includes chemotherapy and/or bone marrow transplant. Acronym: ANLL Incidence: 2.5 cases per 100,000 (all ages). Origin: Gr. Haima = blood (07 Apr 1998) |
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| acute organic brain syndrome | <syndrome> A constellation of behavioural or psychological signs and symptoms including problems with attention, concentration, memory, confusion, anxiety, and depression caused by transient or permanent dysfunction of the brain. Synonym: acute organic brain syndrome, OBS, organic mental syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute pancreatitis | <radiology> Findings: elevated hemidiaphragm, atelectasis / consolidation, pulmonary oedema (direct toxic effect? cardiosuppression?), pleural effusion (more common on left), sentinel loops, colon cut-off sign, antral pad, duodenum: widened loop, thickened folds, inverted 3 (Frostberg sign) (12 Dec 1998) |
| acute parenchymatous hepatitis | A lesion in which there is extensive and rapid death of parenchymal cells of the liver, sometimes with fatty degeneration of the size of the organ; the necrosis may result from fulminant viral infection or chemical poisoning; associated with jaundice. Synonym: acute parenchymatous hepatitis, Rokitansky's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute-phase protein | <haematology> These plasma proteins (in addition to fibrinogen) increase 25% or more in response to inflammation and injury are under direct control of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (hepatocyte-stimulating factor). Other proteins which increase are ceruloplasmin, C3 and C4 which increase 50% or more; alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, alpha-1 antitrypsin, haptoglobin and fibrinogen (the major determinant of viscosity 1 ) which increase two- to fourfold; C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A which increase several hundred-fold. Despite long-held clinical opinion to the contrary, available data indicate that neither ESR nor measurement of specific acute-phase reactants are useful in excluding underlying infection or inflammation regardless of the pretest probability. These proteins are secreted into the blood in increased or decreased quantities by hepatocytes in response to trauma, inflammation, or disease. They can serve as inhibitors or mediators of the inflammatory processes. Certain acute-phase proteins have been used to diagnose and follow the course of diseases or as tumour markers. See also: amyloid, c-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, viscosity. (25 Jun 1999) |
| acute-phase reaction | <immunology, rheumatology> Refers to the changes in synthesis of certain proteins within the serum during an inflammatory response, which provides rapid protection for the host against microorganisms via non-specific defense mechanisms. It consists of fever, an increase in inflammatory humoral factors, and an increased synthesis by hepatocytes of a number of proteins or glycoproteins usually found in the plasma; the reaction is mediated by endogenous pyrogens, the hypothalamus, adrenal hormones, and other factors. (12 Jul 2000) |
| acute porphyria | <gastroenterology, haematology> A group of metabolic disorders that result from a disturbance in porphyrin metabolism, causing increased formation and excretion of porphyrin or its precursors. Acute intermittent porphyria is a rare inherited (autosomal dominant) form that can result in abdominal pain, photosensitivity and neurological disturbances. The various forms can be differntiated measuring various blood prophyrins. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis | <nephrology> A disease of the kidneys that results in inflammation of the glomerulus (the portion of the kidney that filters the blood). Conditions which may cause glomerulonephritis include post-streptococcal disease (strep throat), lupus, syphilis, bacterial endocarditis, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, sepsis, vasculitis, Goodpasture's syndrome, typhoid fever, Henoch-Schonlein purpura, hepatitis or a viral infection (for example mumps, measles, mononucleosis). (27 Sep 1997) |
| acute primary haemorrhagic meningoencephalitis | A disease characterised by acute onset of fever, followed by convulsions, delirium, and coma, and associated with perivascular demyelination and haemorrhagic foci in the central nervous system. Synonym: acute primary haemorrhagic meningoencephalitis, Strumpell's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute promyelocytic leukaemia | Leukaemia presenting as a severe bleeding disorder, with infiltration of the bone marrow by abnormal promyelocytes and myelocytes, a low plasma fibrinogen, and defective coagulation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute pulmonary alveolitis | Acute inflammation involving exudate into the pulmonary alveoli and impaired gas exchange; may result in necrosis with haemorrhage into the lungs; occurs in Goodpasture's syndrome, in association with a glomerulonephritis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute pulmonary eosinophilia | <chest medicine> A self-limiting inflammation in the lungs where there is associated infiltration of eosinophils into lung tissue. Chest X-ray reveals pulmonary infiltrates and full blood count shows increased numbers of eosinophils. The cause is unknown and the disease often resolves without treatment. Some forms may be treated with oral corticosteroids. Complications include restrictive cardiomyopathy due to fibrosis of the lining of the heart. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acute pyelonephritis | Acute inflammation of the renal parenchyma and pelvis characterised by small cortical abscesses and yellowish streaks in the medulla due to pus in the collecting tubules and interstitial tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute radiation syndrome | <syndrome> A syndrome caused by exposure of the body to large amounts of radiation, (e.g., from certain forms of therapy, accidents, and nuclear explosions; it is divided into three major forms which are, in ascending order of severity, the haematogic, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system-cardiovascular forms; its clinical manifestations are divided into prodromal, latent, overt, and recovery stages. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute reflex bone atrophy | Atrophy of bones, commonly of the carpal or tarsal bones, following a slight injury such as a sprain. See: causalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Synonym: acute reflex bone atrophy, posttraumatic osteoporosis, Sudeck's syndrome. Origin: L. English sweat (05 Mar 2000) |