| MEDAC Syndrome | Multiple-Endocrine Deficiency Autoimmune-Candidiasis |
|---|---|
| PGA | Poly-Glandular Autoimmune syndrome |
| A-CAH | autoimmune chronic active hepatitis |
| AH | abdominal hysterectomy; absorptive hypercalciuria; accidental hypothermia; acetohexamide; acid hydro... |
| AHA | acetohydroxamic acid; acquired hemolytic anemia; acute hemolytic anemia; American Heart Association;... |
| autoimmune thrombocytopenia purpura | <haematology> A rare autoimmune disorder characterised by an acute shortage of platelets with resultant bruising and spontaneous bleeding. The platelet count becomes exceedingly low and spontaneous bleeding from the gums, gastrointestinal tract and nose can be seen. Physical examination may demonstrate enlargement of the spleen. A typical rash occurs to do microscopic haemorrhage of small blood vessels in the skin. Platelet counts under 10,000 can lead to spontaneous haemorrhage into the brain causing death. Treatment with corticosteroids is generally effective. Surgical removal of the spleen (splenectomy) is reserved for some patients. Anti-platelet antibodies are detectable in some cases. It may present in either an acute or a chronic form. Acronym: ITP (20 Sep 2002) |
|---|---|
| autoimmune thyroiditis | <endocrinology> Inflammation of the thyroid gland without the formation of pus. Noninfectious nonbacterial thyroid inflammation. (27 Sep 1997) |
| polyendocrinopathies, autoimmune | Autoimmune disease affecting multiple endocrine organs. Type I is characterised by childhood onset and mucocutaneous candidiasis, while type II exhibits any combination of adrenal insufficiency (addison's disease), lymphocytic thyroiditis, hypoparathyroidism, and gonadal failure. In both types organ-specific antibodies against a variety of endocrine glands have been detected. The type II syndrome differs from type I in that it is associated with HLA-a1 and b8 haplotypes, onset is usually in adulthood, and candidiasis is not present. (12 Dec 1998) |
| hepatitis, autoimmune | An unresolving, predominately periportal, hepatitis, usually with hypergammaglobulinaemia and serum autoantibodies. The existence of subgroups (types 1, 2, and 3) based on serological findings are controversial. Additionally, some patients have variant forms, where there are features associated with both autoimmune hepatitis and another type of chronic liver disease (overlap syndromes) or where there are findings incompatible with autoimmune hepatitis (outlier syndromes). (12 Dec 1998) |
| systemic autoimmune diseases | A group of connective tissue disease's characterised by the presence of autoantibodies responsible for immunopathologically mediated tissue lesions; systemic lupus erythematosus is the prototype. (05 Mar 2000) |
| thyroiditis, autoimmune | A progressive disease of the thyroid gland with antibodies in the blood stream directed against the thyroid and infiltration of the gland by lymphoctes (a key type of white blood cells involved in the immune response). This immune response is against one's own thyroid. (it is autoimmune.) predominantly affects women. Can be familial. Also called hashimoto's disease or hashimoto's thyroiditis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ABO haemolytic disease of the newborn | Erythroblastosis foetalis due to maternal-foetal incompatibility with respect to an antigen of the ABO blood group; the foetus possesses A or B antigen which is lacking in the mother, and the mother produces immune antibody which causes haemolysis of foetal erythrocytes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acquired haemolytic icterus | Icterus and anaemia occuring in association with a moderate degree of splenomegaly, increased fragility of red blood cells, and increased amounts of urobilin in the urine. Synonym: icteroanaemia. Origin: G. Ikteros (05 Mar 2000) |
| beta-haemolytic streptococci | Those that produce active haemolysins (O and S) which cause a zone of clear haemolysis on the blood agar medium in the area of the colony; beta-haemolytic streptococci are divided into groups (A to O) on the basis of cell wall C carbohydrate (see Lancefield classification); Group A (in the strains pathogenic for man) comprises more than 50 types (designated by Arabic numerals) determined by cell wall M protein, which seems to be associated closely with virulence and is produced chiefly by strains with matt or mucoid colonies, in contrast to nonvirulent, glossy colony-producing strains; other surface protein antigens such as R and T (T substance), and the nucleoprotein fraction (P substance) seem to be of less importance. The more than 20 extracellular substances elaborated by strains of beta-haemolytic streptococci include erythrogenic toxin (elaborated only by lysogenic strains), deoxyribonuclease (streptodornase), haemolysins (streptolysins O and S), hyaluronidase, and streptokinase. Synonym: haemolytic streptococci. (05 Mar 2000) |
| complement haemolytic activity assay | Usual screening assay for complement. Dilutions of the serum to be tested are added to antibody-coated erythrocytes and the percentage of lysis is measured. The values are expressed by ch50, haemolytic complement units per milliliter, which is the dilution of serum required to lyse 50 percent of the erythrocytes in the assay. (12 Dec 1998) |
| congenital haemolytic icterus | <haematology> A hereditary disorder that leads to a chronic haemolytic anaemia due to an abnormality in the red blood cell membrane. This disorder is caused by a defective gene. Red cells are resistant to stress and rupture easily. Infants may appear jaundiced and pale. Fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath are other symptoms that may be seen in older patients. The spleen may also be enlarged. Treatment includes splenectomy (removal of the spleen). After this is accomplished the life-span of the red blood cells returns to normal. (27 Sep 1997) |
| congenital haemolytic jaundice | <haematology> A hereditary disorder that leads to a chronic haemolytic anaemia due to an abnormality in the red blood cell membrane. This disorder is caused by a defective gene. Red cells are resistant to stress and rupture easily. Infants may appear jaundiced and pale. Fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath are other symptoms that may be seen in older patients. The spleen may also be enlarged. Treatment includes splenectomy (removal of the spleen). After this is accomplished the life-span of the red blood cells returns to normal. (27 Sep 1997) |
| haemolytic | Destructive to blood cells, resulting in liberation of haemoglobin. Synonym: haematolytic, haemotoxic, haematotoxic, haematoxic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| haemolytic chain | The haemolysis that occurs when complement is activated by the previously formed union of erythrocytes and specific antibody. (05 Mar 2000) |
| haemolytic disease of newborn | <haematology> A condition which develops in the foetus due to an incompatibility between the mother's blood type (RH factor) and the baby's. Maternal antibodies, which enter the foetal circulation during delivery attack the baby's red blood cells leading to haemolysis (rupture of the cells). Symptoms include an infant with an enlarged liver and spleen, swelling, jaundice and anaemia. (27 Sep 1997) |