| oesophageal stricture, chronic | A longstanding narrowing or closure of the normal opening of the swallowing tube leading to the stomach, usually caused by scarring by acid irritation. Narrowing of the oesophagus. A common complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Severa procedures are available for stretching (dilating) the strictures without having to resort to surgery. One of the procedures involves placing a deflated balloon across the stricture at the time of endoscopy. The balloon is then inflated, thereby opening the narrowingcaused by the stricture. Another method involves inserting tapered dilators of different sizes through the mouth into the oesophagus to dilate the stricture. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| ophthalmoplegia, chronic progressive external | One of the mitochondrial encephalomyopathies characterised by slowly progressive paralysis of the extraocular muscles. Muscle biopsies disclose the characteristic ragged red fibres and large numbers of mitochondria with deleted DNA. (12 Dec 1998) |
| jaundice, chronic idiopathic | A familial chronic form of nonhemolytic jaundice thought to be due to a defect in the excretion of conjugated bilirubin and certain other organic anions (e.g., sulfobromophthalein) by the liver. It is characterised by the presence of a brown, coarsely granular pigment in the hepatic cells, which is pathognomonic of the condition. (12 Dec 1998) |
| juvenile chronic arthritis | juvenile arthritis |
| juvenile chronic arthritis, systemic-onset | See: Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, systemic-onset (still's disease). (12 Dec 1998) |
| kidney failure, chronic | An irreversible and usually progressive reduction in renal function in which both kidneys have been damaged by a variety of diseases to the extent that they are unable to adequately remove the metabolic products from the blood and regulate the body's electrolyte composition and acid-base balance. Chronic kidney failure requires haemodialysis or surgery, usually kidney transplantation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fatigue syndrome, chronic | Syndrome of unknown cause, characterised by clinically evaluated, unexplained persistent or relapsing chronic fatigue of at least six months' duration which is not the result of ongoing exertion; is not substantially alleviated by rest; and results in substantial reduction of previous levels of occupational, educational, social, or personal activities. Common concurrent symptoms (of six months duration) include impairment of memory or concentration, diffuse pain, sore throat, tender lymph nodes, headaches of a new type, pattern, or severity, and unrefreshing sleep. The aetiology is suspected to be viral or immunologic. There are suggestions that chronic fatigue syndrome (sometimes called myalgic encephalomyelitis) may be identical to neurasthenia and fibromyalgia. (12 Dec 1998) |