| AF | abnormal frequency; acid-fast; adult female; afebrile; aflatoxin; albumin-free; albumose-free; aldeh... |
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| AHA | acetohydroxamic acid; acquired hemolytic anemia; acute hemolytic anemia; American Heart Association;... |
| AIMS | abnormal involuntary movement scale; aid for the impaired medical student; arthritis impact measurem... |
| ARC | accelerating rate calorimetry; acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related complex; active renin conc... |
| ARD | absolute reaction of degeneration; acute radiation disease; acute respiratory disease; adult respira... |
| rheumatoid arthritis | <rheumatology> Chronic inflammatory disease in which there is destruction of joints. Considered by some to be an autoimmune disorder in which immune complexes are formed in joints and excite an inflammatory response (complex mediated hypersensitivity). Cell-mediated (type IV) hypersensitivity also occurs and macrophages accumulate. This in turn leads to the destruction of the synovial lining (see pannus). (18 Nov 1997) |
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| rheumatoid arthritis: joint manifestations | <radiology> Early signs: fusiform periarticular soft tissue swelling (result of effusion), regional osteoporosis (disuse and local hyperaemia), widened joint space, marginal and central bone erosion (base of 4th proximal phalanx most common), change in ulnar styloid and distal radioulnar joint, atlantoaxial dislocation, giant synovial cysts late signs: flexion/extension contractures with ulnar subluxation/dislocation, destruction/fusion of joints, elevation of humeral heads (tear/atrophy of rotator cuff), resorption of distal clavicle, erosion of superior margins of posterior portions of 3-5th ribs, destruction/narrowing of disc spaces, destruction of zygapophyseal joints without osteophyte formation, resorption of spinous process, protrusio acetabuli (from osteoporosis) (12 Dec 1998) |
| rheumatoid arthritis, systemic-onset juvenile | Also known as systemic-onset juvenile chronic arthritis. Still's disease presents with systemic (bodywide) illness including high intermittent fever, a salmon-coloured skin rash, swollen lymph glands, enlargement of the liver and spleen, and inflammation of the lungs (pleuritis) and around the heart (pericarditis). The arthritis may not be immediately apparent but it does appear and may persist after the systemic symptoms are gone. (12 Dec 1998) |
| chlamydial arthritis | Serous polyarthritis of cattle and sheep from chlamydial infection. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic absorptive arthritis | Arthritis accompanied by pronounced resorption of bone with shortening and deformity, especially of the hands; when the deformity is extreme, the condition has also been termed arthritis mutilans. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chylous arthritis | Arthritis with a high lymph content in synovial fluid, usually due to filariasis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mycotic arthritis | <pathology> Infection of a joint space by fungus. Common fungi that can cause mycotic arthritis include coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, cryptococcosis, sporotrichosis and candidiasis. Infection of a joint generally occurs as a result of a primary fungal infection in the lungs. Treatment is with antifungal agents (for example amphotericin B, ketoconazole). (27 Sep 1997) |
| haemophilic arthritis | <orthopaedics, rheumatology> Joint disease resulting from haemophilic bleeding into a joint. (05 Mar 2000) |
| proliferative arthritis | Rarely used term for rheumatoid arthritis, based on the characteristic proliferation of the synovial membrane seen in joints affected by the disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| psoriatic arthritis | <radiology> Types: true psoriatic arthritis (1/3), resembling rheumatoid arthritis (1/3), combination of psoriatic and RA (1/3) findings: no juxta-articular osteoporosis (unlike RA), periosteal reaction frequent, assymetrical destruction of DIP with ankylosis, resorption of terminal tufts with pencil in cup deformity, ivory phalanx, destruction of 1st toe IP joint with periosteal reaction and bony proliferation at distal phalangeal base (pathognomonic), assymetrical syndesmophytes (lower C- to upper lumbar spine), squaring of vertebrae in lumbar spine, paravertebral soft tissue calcifications, bilateral assymetrical sacroiliitis associated with HLA B-27 antigen, negative rheumatoid factor (12 Dec 1998) |
| septic arthritis | <pathology> A pus-forming bacterial infection of a joint space. Symptoms include a hot, swollen, red joint, that is very tender to any attempted movement. (27 Sep 1997) |
| pyogenic arthritis | Acute inflammation of synovial membranes, with purulent effusion into a joint, due to bacterial infection; the usual route of infection is hemic to the synovial tissue, causing destruction of the articular cartilage, and may become chronic, with sinus formation, osteomyelitis, deformity, and disability. Synonym: purulent synovitis, pyarthrosis, pyogenic arthritis, suppurative synovitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hypertrophic arthritis | <pathology> Noninflammatory degenerative joint disease occurring chiefly in older persons, characterised by degeneration of the articular cartilage, hypertrophy of bone at the margins and changes in the synovial membrane. It is accompanied by pain and stiffness, particularly after prolonged activity. Origin: Gr. Arthron = joint (18 Nov 1997) |
| neonatal arthritis of foals | Bacterial polyarthritis caused by umbilical infections by several bacterial species. (05 Mar 2000) |
| neuropathic arthritis | <radiology> M more than F, age more than 40 yrs, 6 D's, destruction, increased density, dislocation, debris, distension, disorganization, diabetic neuropathy, syphilis (tabes dorsalis), syrinx, meningomyelocele / spina bifida, nerve injury: spinal cord or peripheral nerves, congenital insensitivity to pain, leprosy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome (12 Dec 1998) |