| fibrillation threshold | Least intensity of an electrical stimulus that will initiate fibrillation. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| fibrillation, atrial | An abnormal irregular heart rhythm whereby electrical signals are generated chaotically throughout the upper chambers (atria) of the heart. Although many persons with atrial fibrillation have no symptoms, the most common symptom is palpitations, an uncomfortable awareness of the rapid and irregular heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation can cause blood clots that travel from the heart to the brain, causing stroke. Treatment of atrial fibrillation involves controlling the risk factors, medications to slow the heart rate and/or convert the heart to normal rhythm, and preventing complications of blood clotting. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fibrillation, auricular | Essentially the same as atrial fibrillation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fibrillation, ventricular | An abnormal irregular heart rhythm whereby there are very rapid uncoordinated fluttering contractions of the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart. Venticular fibrillation disrupts the synchrony between the heartbeat and the pulse beat. Ventricular fibrillation is commonly associated with heart attacks or scarring of the heart muscle from previous heart attack. Ventricular fibrillation is life threatening. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fibrillatory waves | The waves of atrial flutter usually best seen in ECG leads 2, 3, and AVF. (A small f indicates atrial fibrillation). Synonym: fibrillary waves, fibrillatory waves, flutter-fibrillation waves. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fibrillin | <protein> Widely distributed connective tissue protein (350 kD) associated with microfibrils (10nm diameter). (12 Nov 1997) |
| fibrilloflutter | Mixture of atrial flutter (FF) waves and fibrillation (ff) waves in the electrocardiogram. Synonym: fibrilloflutter, flutter-fibrillation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fibrillogenesis | The development of fine fibrils (as seen with the electron microscope) normally present in collagenous fibres of connective tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fibrin | <protein> The insoluble protein formed from fibrinogen by the proteolytic action of thrombin during normal clotting of blood. Fibrin forms the essential portion of the blood clot. (12 Nov 1997) |
| fibrin calculus | A urinary calculus formed largely from fibrinogen in blood. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fibrin degradation products | <haematology, investigation> A test that measures fibrin degradation products which result from the dissolution of a blood clot. Normal value is less than 10 mcg/ml (micrograms per millilitre). They may be increased in conditions such as burns, placental abruption, heart disease, DIC, after massive blood transfusion, hypoxia, intrauterine foetal death, portacaval shunt, leukaemia, transfusion reaction, transplant rejection, sepsis, renal failure and preeclampsia. Acronym: FDP (23 Sep 2002) |
| fibrin destabilase | <enzyme> Hydrolyses the epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)-lysine bonds of stabilised fibrin Pharmacological action: fibrinolytic agents Registry number: EC 3.4.99.- Synonym: destabilase (26 Jun 1999) |
| fibrin fibrinogen degradation products | <chemical> Soluble protein fragments formed by the proteolytic action of plasmin on fibrin or fibrinogen. Fdp and their complexes profoundly impair the haemostatic process and are a major cause of haemorrhage in intravascular coagulation and fibrinolysis. Pharmacological action: antithrombins. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fibrin foam | <chemical> A dry artificial sterile sponge of fibrin prepared by clotting with thrombin a foam or solution of fibrinogen. It is used in conjunction with thrombin as a haemostatic in surgery at sites where bleeding cannot be controlled by more common methods. Pharmacological action: haemostatics, tissue adhesives. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fibrin thrombus | A thrombus formed by repeated deposits of fibrin from the circulating blood; it usually does not completely occlude the vessel. (05 Mar 2000) |