| LCA | left circumflex artery; left coronary artery; leukocyte common antigen; lithocholic acid; lymphocyte... |
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| LCC | lactose coliform count; left circumflex coronary (artery); left common carotid; left coronary cusp; ... |
| LCF | least common factor; lymphocyte culture fluid |
| LCM | latent cardiomyopathy; left costal margin; leukocyte-conditioned medium; lowest common multiple; lym... |
| RCC | radiological control center; rape crisis center; ratio of cost to charges; receptor-chemoeffector co... |
| acute inflammation | Any inflammation that has a fairly rapid onset, quickly becomes severe, usually manifested for only a few days, but may persist for several days or even a few weeks. Synonym: active inflammation. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| acute inflammatory polyneuropathy | <neurology, syndrome> Acute infective polyneuritis that results in a form of peripheral neuropathy with temporary loss of movement and sensation due to inflammation of multiple nerves and loss of myelin. The exact cause is unknown but has been associated with an abnormal immune response to viral infection, particularly cytomegalovirus infection, in which there is cell-mediated immunity to a component of myelin. The disease may be autoimmune in origin and complete recovery can take up to six months. Synonym: Guillain-Barre syndrome (12 Jul 2000) |
| acute intermittent 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) |
| acute interstitial nephritis | <nephrology> A relatively uncommon condition which is characterised by inflammation of the renal tubules, glomeruli and surrounding tissue. Interstitial nephritis is usually be temporary and often associated with the use of a particular medication. Chronic and progressive forms do exist. Drugs that have been associated with interstitial nephritis include penicillins, ampicillin, sulpha drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, furosemide and thiazide diuretics. May result in mild kidney dysfunction or acute renal failure. Treatment may be with corticosteroids. Incidence: 1 in 25,000. (29 Dec 1997) |
| acute interstitial pneumonia | A severe and usually fatal form of pneumonia occurring primarily in infants usually considered a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute interstitial pneumonitis | Usually considered a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute kidney failure | <nephrology> A sudden decline in renal function may be triggered by a number of acute disease processes. Examples include sepsis (infection), shock, trauma, kidney stones, kidney infection, drug toxicity (aspirin or lithium), poisons or toxins (drug abuse) or after injection with an iodinated contrast dye (adverse effect). Chronic renal failure represents a slow decline in kidney function over time. Chronic renal failure may be caused by a number of disorders which include long-standing hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, lupus or sickle cell anaemia. Both forms of renal failure result in a life-threatening metabolic derangement. (27 Sep 1997) |
| acute kidney transplant rejection | <radiology> Findings on ultrasound: globular enlargment of the kidney, swelling and hypoechogenicity of the medullary pyramids, indistinct cortico-medullary junction, foci in the renal cortex (12 Dec 1998) |
| acute lobar nephrosis | A severe but localised bacterial infection of the renal parenchyma that may produce a mass effect simulating a renal abscess. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute lower GI haemorrhage | <gastroenterology> Typical presentation: Sudden onset of brisk rectal bleeding without blood in gastric aspirate Diagnostic considerations: diverticulosis, angiodysplasia, ischemic colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (rarely), polyps are usually present, carcinoma causing a chronic bleed, haemorrhoids. (12 Dec 1998) |
| acute malaria | A form of malaria that may be intermittent or remittent, consisting of a chill accompanied and followed by fever with its attendant general symptoms, and terminating in a sweating stage; the paroxysms, caused by release of merozoites from infected cells, recur every 48 hours in tertian (vivax or ovale) malaria, every 72 hours in quartan (malariae) malaria, and at indefinite but frequent intervals, usually about 48 hours, in malignant tertian (falciparum) malaria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute mania | An excited mental state seen in a bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder characterised by hyperactivity, talkativeness, flight of ideas, pressured speech, grandiosity, and, occasionally, grandiose delusions. See: mania, manic-depressive. Synonym: acute mania. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute miliary tuberculosis | A rapidly fatal disease due to the general dissemination of tubercle bacilli in the blood, resulting in the formation of miliary tubercles in various organs and tissues, and producing symptoms of profound toxaemia. Synonym: acute miliary tuberculosis, disseminated tuberculosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute mountain sickness | <chest medicine> A condition that results from prolonged exposure to high altitude. Symptoms include a continuous dry cough, shortness of breath, poor exercise tolerance, dizziness, headache, sleep difficulty, anorexia, confusion, fatigue and a rapid pulse. Treatment includes the immediate movement to a lower altitude. Prophylaxis has been accomplished successfully with the use of acetazolamide (Diamox). (27 Sep 1997) |
| acute necrotizing encephalitis | An acute form of encephalitis, characterised by destruction of brain parenchyme. (05 Mar 2000) |