| angio-osteohypertrophy syndrome | <syndrome> A congenital malformation syndrome characterised by the triad of asymmetric limb hypertrophy, haemangiomata, and nevi. Asymmetric limb hypertrophy is enlargement of one limb and not the corresponding limb on the other side, the enlarged limb being 3 times more likely to be a leg than an arm in ktw; and the limb enlargement is of bone as well as soft tissue. The haemangiomas, abnormal nests of blood vessels that proliferate inappropriately and excessively, cover a remarkable range from small innocuous capillary haemangiomas ( strawberry marks ) to huge cavernous haemangiomas. The nevi are pigmented moles on the skin; in ktw there are often also dark linear streaks on the skin, streaks due to too much pigment. There can be other abnormalities but the triad is the consistent clinical centrepiece of the disease. most persons with ktw have an enlarged leg and do relatively well without treatment or, for example, with only compression from an elastic stocking. Skin ulcers and other skin problems can occur over the swollen leg. Usually, the treatment is conservative. Surgery is almost never needed. The only possible exceptions are the very rare situations in which the leg reaches gigantic proportions or secondary clotting difficulties arise (due to trapping and destruction of blood platelets in a huge haemangioma). Then, amputation may become necessary. The cause of ktw syndrome is unknown. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| ankyloglossia superior syndrome | <syndrome> A congenital condition in which the tongue adheres to the hard palate; no evidence of genetic factors. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anorectal syndrome | <syndrome> Soreness, burning, itching, or other irritation of the rectum together with redness about the anus, and sometimes accompanied by diarrhoea, occurring as a toxic effect of the oral administration of certain broad spectrum antibiotics. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior chamber cleavage syndrome | <syndrome> A congenital disorder originating from faulty separation of embryonic structures; it results in bilateral central corneal opacities, with an anterior ring attachment of the iridic pupillary border and anterior polar cataracts; associated with short-limbed dwarfism; autosomal dominant inheritance. See: iridocorneal endothelial syndrome. Synonym: Peters' anomaly. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior compartment syndrome | <syndrome> Rapid swelling, increased tension, pain, and ischemic necrosis of the muscles of the anterior tibial compartment of the leg, often following excessive exertion. (12 Dec 1998) |
| anterior tibial compartment syndrome | <syndrome> Ischemic necrosis of the muscles of the anterior tibial compartment of the leg, presumed due to compression of arteries by swollen muscles following unaccustomed exertion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antibody deficiency syndrome | <syndrome> Any of a group of disorders associated with a defective antibody production due to defects in the B-type lymphocyte system or in T-type lymphocytes; chief manifestation is an increased susceptibility to infection by various microorganisms. See: agammaglobulinaemia, hypogammaglobulinaemia, immunodeficiency. Synonym: antibody deficiency disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antiphospholipid antibody syndrome | <syndrome> An immune disorder characterised by the presence of abnormal antibodies in the blood associated with certain medical conditions including abnormal blood clotting, migraine headaches, premature miscarriage, and low blood platelet counts (thrombocytopenia). (12 Dec 1998) |
| antiphospholipid syndrome | <immunology, syndrome> An uncommon disorder that is characterised by hypercoagulability due to the presence of antibodies against phospholipids. These patients exhibit a tendency for recurrent and life-threatening thrombosis and embolic events (for example stroke). Individuals with antiphospholipid syndrome also have an increased tendency toward deep venous thrombosis, myocardial infarction and spontaneous abortions in females. Antiphospholipid syndrome may be seen by itself or in association with other autoimmune illnesses (for example lupus) or with some infections. Treatment includes long-term heparin and warfarin. (13 Jan 1998) |
| Anton's syndrome | <syndrome> In cortical blindness, lack of awareness of being blind. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anxiety syndrome | <syndrome> The constellation of autonomic nervous system signs and symptoms accompanying the apprehension of danger and dread. See: anxiety. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aortic arch syndrome | <syndrome> Aortic arch syndrome, also referred to by many as vertebral-basilar artery disease, carotid artery occlusive syndrome and subclavian steal syndrome is characterised by a constellation of signs and symptoms which occur secondary to abnormalities in the major arteries which extend off of the aortic arch. These abnormalities are structural and most often secondary to the effects of atherosclerosis, blood clots, trauma or a congenital abnormality. Symptoms of this condition include various neurologic symptoms, reduction in pulse and changes in blood pressure. (27 Sep 1997) |
| apallic syndrome | Diffuse, bilateral cerebral cortical degeneration caused by head injury, anoxia, or encephalitis, a state of persistent unresponsiveness, such as akinetic mutism, caused by brain damage. See: vegetative. Synonym: apallic syndrome, apallic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Apert's syndrome | <paediatrics> A usually inherited disorder characterised by premature closing of the cranial suture lines resulting in a peaked shaped head and abnormal facial appearance. Since it is usually autosomal dominant one or both parents also have the disorder. Surgery is used to correct skull and facial abnormalities. Inheritance: autosomal dominant. (29 Dec 1997) |
| Apert syndrome | <syndrome> Apert (1906) defined a syndrome characterised by skull malformation (acrocephaly of brachysphenocephalic type) due to the premature closure of the cranial sutures and syndactyly of the hands and feet of a special type (complete distal fusion with a tendency to fusion also of the bony structures). The hand, when all the fingers are webbed, has been compared to a spoon and, when the thumb is free, to an obstetric hand. Two clinical categories are distinguished, a 'typical' acrocephalosyndactyly, to which Apert's name is appropriately applied and other forms lumped together as 'atypical' acrocephalosyndactyly. The feature distinguishing the two types is a middigital hand mass with a single nail common to digits 2-4, found in Apert syndrome and lacking in the others. A frequency of Apert syndrome of 1 in 160,000 births is estimated. Evidence suggests that Apert syndrome results from mutations in the gene encoding fibroblast growth factor receptor-2. Progressive synostosis occurs in the feet, hands, carpus, tarsus, cervical vertebrae, and skull, and proposed 'progressive synosteosis with syndactyly' is possibly a more appropriate designation. Clinical features: flat facies, shallow orbits, hypertelorism, narrow palate, craniosynostosis, brachysphenocephalic acrocephaly, syndactyly, broad thumb, broad great toe, single nail digits 2-4, variable mental retardation, corpus callosum and/or limbic malformations, fused cervical vertebrae. A skull X-ray can confirm the diagnosis. Treatment is surgical. Inheritance: autosomal dominant, paternal age effect. (05 Aug 1998) |