| intermittent acute porphyria | <gastroenterology, haematology> A group of rare inherited metabolic disorders that result from a disturbance in porphyrin metabolism, causing increased formation and excretion of porphyrin or its precursors. It is caused by hepatic overproduction of d-aminolevulinic acid, which has greatly increased urinary excretion and of porphobilinogen, and some increase of uroporphyrin, due to a deficiency of porphobilinogen deaminase. Clinical features: intermittent acute attacks of hypertension, abdominal colic, psychosis, and polyneuropathy, but with no photosensitivity. It is exacerbated by the ingestion of certain drugs such as; barbiturates). Inheritance: autosomal dominant. (20 Sep 2002) |
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| oesophageal stricture, acute | A narrowing or closure of the normal opening of the swallowing tube leading to the stomach, usually caused by scarring from acid irritation. Acute, complete obstruction of the oesophagus occurs when food (usually meat) is lodged in the oesophageal stricture. Patients experience chest pain, and are unable to swallow saliva. Attempts to relieve the obstruction by inducing vomiting at home are usually unsuccessful. Patients with complete oesophageal obstruction can breathe, and are not at any risk of suffocation. Endoscopy is usually employed to retrieve the meat and relieve the obstruction. (12 Dec 1998) |
| encephalomyelitis, acute disseminated | An acute or subacute encephalomyelitis or myelitis characterised by perivascular lymphocyte and mononuclear cell infiltration and demyelination. It occurs most commonly following an acute viral infection, especially measles, but may occur without a recognizable antecedent, and formerly occurred as a complication of rabies and smallpox vaccination. (12 Dec 1998) |
| 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) |
| kidney tubular necrosis, acute | Acute kidney failure resulting from destruction of tubular epithelial cells. It is commonly attributed to exposure to toxic agents or renal ischemia following severe trauma. (12 Dec 1998) |
| leukaemia, erythroblastic, acute | A myeloproliferative disorder characterised by neoplastic proliferation of erythroblastic and myeloblastic elements with atypical erythroblasts and myeloblasts in the peripheral blood. (12 Dec 1998) |
| leukaemia, megakaryocytic, acute | Nonlymphocytic leukaemia in which 20-30% of the bone marrow or peripheral blood cells are of megakaryocyte lineage. Myelofibrosis or increased bone marrow reticulin is common. (12 Dec 1998) |
| leukaemia, myelocytic, acute | Progressive, malignant disease of the myeloid tissue in which the granular, polymorphonuclear leukocytes and their precursors predominate. (12 Dec 1998) |
| leukaemia, nonlymphocytic, acute | Acute leukaemia distinguished from acute lymphocytic leukaemia (all) by the morphology of the marrow and blood leukaemic cells. Cytoplasmic granules are usually present and the nucleus is usually large and irregular. Anll is more common in adults than all and occurs at any age. (12 Dec 1998) |
| leukoencephalitis, acute haemorrhagic | A rare, fatal postinfection or allergic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system having a fulminating course and occurring mainly in young adults. It is characterised by destruction of white matter to the point of liquefaction; widespread necrosis of blood vessel walls leading to the formation of multiple small haemorrhages in the involved areas and the exudation of fibrin into the surrounding tissue; and cellular infiltration of the necrotic areas. (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) |