| multiple organ failure | A progressive condition usually characterised by combined failure of the lungs, liver, kidney, and clotting mechanisms, usually postinjury or postoperative. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| multiple parasitism | A condition in which parasites of different species parasitise a single host, in contrast to superparasitism or hyperparasitism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| multiple personality | A dissociative disorder in which two or more distinct conscious personality's alternately prevail in the same person, without any personality being aware of the other. See: dual personality. (05 Mar 2000) |
| multiple personality disorder | A dissociative disorder in which the individual adopts two or more distinct personalities. Each personality is a fully integrated and complex unit with memories, behaviour patterns and social friendships. Transition from one personality to another is sudden. (12 Dec 1998) |
| multiple pregnancy | Condition of bearing two or more foetuses simultaneously. Synonym: plural pregnancy, polycyesis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| multiple renal cysts | <radiology> Adult (autosomal-dominant) polycystic kidney disease, multiple simple cysts, tuberous sclerosis, von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, Meckel-Gruber syndrome (12 Dec 1998) |
| multiple sclerosis | <neurology> Neurodegenerative disease characterised by the gradual accumulation of focal plaques of demyelination particularly in the periventricular areas of the brain. Peripheral nerves are not affected. Onset usually in 3rd or 4th decade with intermittent progression over an extended period. Cause still uncertain. (18 Nov 1997) |
| multiple self-healing squamous epithelioma | <tumour> Multiple skin tumours, most frequently on the head, each resembling a well-differentiated squamous carcinoma or keratoacanthoma; individual tumours resolve spontaneously after several months, leaving deep-pitted scars with irregular crenellated borders, and are usually replaced by additional new tumours; autosomal dominant inheritance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| multiple serositis | Chronic inflammation with effusions in several serous cavities resulting in fibrous thickening of the serosa and constrictive pericarditis. Synonym: Bamberger's disease, Concato's disease, multiple serositis. Origin: poly-+ L. Serum, serum, + G. -itis, inflammation Familial paroxysmal polyserositis, transient recurring attacks of abdominal pain, fever, pleurisy, arthritis, and rash; the condition is asymptomatic between attacks; autosomal recessive inheritance. There is an autosomal dominant recessive in which amyloidosis in common. Synonym: benign paroxysmal peritonitis, familial Mediterranean fever, familial recurrent polyserositis, Mediterranean fever, periodic peritonitis, periodic polyserositis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| multiple sleep latency test | A test of the propensity to fall asleep, done by performing polysomnography during multiple brief opportunities to sleep. (05 Mar 2000) |
| multiple stain | <technique> A mixture of several dyes each having an independent selective action on one or more portions of the tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| multiple sulfatase deficiency | An inherited disorder (autosomal recessive) in which there is a failure to hydrolyze sulfatides and sulfated mucopolysaccharides; this failure leads to their accumulation in neural and extraneural tissues causing demyelination, sulfatiduria, facial and skeletal dysmorphism, etc. (05 Mar 2000) |
| multiple symmetric lipomatosis | Accumulation and progressive enlargement of collections of adipose tissue in the subcutaneous tissue of the head, neck, upper trunk, and upper portions of the upper extremities; seen primarily in adult males and of unknown cause. Synonym: Launois-Bensaude syndrome, Madelung's disease, symmetric adenolipomatosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| multiple system atrophy | A name grouping together the four cerebral degenerative diseases of olivopontocerebellar atrophy, shy-drager syndrome, striatonigral degeneration, and one form of parkinson disease, considering them different forms of the same disease process. (12 Dec 1998) |
| multiple trauma | Physical insults or injuries occurring simultaneously in several parts of the body. (12 Dec 1998) |