| chronic mountain sickness | Loss of high altitude tolerance after prolonged exposure (e.g., by residence), characterised by extreme polycythemia, exaggerated hypoxaemia, and reduced mental and physical capacity; relieved by descent. Synonym: altitude erythraemia, chronic soroche, Monge's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| chronic myeloid leukaemia | <haematology> A leukaemia which is initially slowly-progressing. There are approximately 650 new cases each year in the UK. It is characterised by the presence of large numbers of abnormal mature granulocytes, circulating in the blood. Synonym: chronic granulocytic leukaemia. Acronym: CML Origin: Gr. Haima = blood (12 Jan 1998) |
| chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia | <haematology> A form of myelodysplasia characterised by an increase in the number of circulating white blood cells of the monocyte type. Acronym: CMML Origin: Gr. Haima = blood (12 Jan 1998) |
| chronic nephritis | Glomerulonephritis that presents with persisting proteinuria, chronic renal failure, and hypertension, of insidious onset or as a late sequel of acute glomerulonephritis; the kidneys are symmetrically contracted and granular, with scarring and loss of glomeruli and the presence of tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis. Synonym: chronic nephritis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic nonleukaemic myelosis | A condition in which there is abnormal proliferation of leukopoietic tissue that results in immature white blood cells in the circulating blood, but the total count is within the normal range. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | <disease> A progressive disease process that most commonly results from smoking. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is characterised by difficulty breathing, wheezing and a chronic cough. Treatment includes absolute avoidance from smoking, bronchodilators and oxygen for those with advanced disease. Complications include bronchitis, pneumonia and lung cancer. See: emphysema. (27 Sep 1997) |
| chronic pancreatitis | Inflammatory disease of the pancreas characterised by fibrosis and irreversible loss of exocrine function. Chronic fibrosing pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas consisting of fibrosis, acinar atrophy, and calcification. Clinically, it follows a protracted course with relapses and remissions, and is usually due to alcohol abuse or malnutrition. Chronic relapsing pancreatitis, repeated exacerbations of pancreatitis in patient with chronic inflammation of that organ. Relapses are usually due to persistence of aetiologic factor or repeated exposure to it, such as occurs with partial ductal obstruction or chronic alcoholism. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic pancreatitis: surgical treatment | <radiology> ERCP findings Surgical procedure, dilated proximal duct sphincterotomy, dilated distal duct distal pancreatectomy, with or without retrograde jejunal drainage, diffuse ductal dilatation Peustow procedure, (chain-of-lakes), sclerosed duct Child procedure (subtotal panc-x) (12 Dec 1998) |
| chronic persistent hepatitis | <pathology> A form of hepatitis usually caused by hepatitis C or B, that consists of mild persistent liver inflammation. Often a mild elevation of the liver enzymes will be seen on liver profile or SMAC 25 assay. Liver biopsy indicates persistent hepatitis. Incidence: 1 in 1,000. (02 Jan 1998) |
| chronic persisting hepatitis | A form of chronic hepatitis that is usually benign, not progressing to cirrhosis, and usually asymptomatic without physical findings but with continuing abnormalities of tests of liver status. Synonym: chronic persistent hepatitis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic phase | Refers to the early stages of chronic myelogenous leukaemia. The number of immature, abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood is higher than normal, but lower than in the accelerated or blast phase. (12 Dec 1998) |
| chronic pleurisy | Vague or indefinite term for long-standing inflammation of the pleura of any aetiology (e.g., tuberculosis). (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic pneumonia | Vague or indefinite term for long-standing inflammation of pulmonary tissue of any aetiology. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic progressive chorea | A progressive disorder usually beginning in young to middle age, consisting of a triad of choreoathetosis, dementia, and autosomal dominant inheritance with complete penetrance. Bilateral marked wasting of the putamen and the head of the caudate nucleus is characteristic. Synonym: chronic progressive chorea, degenerative chorea, hereditary chorea, Huntington's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia | A specific type of slowly worsening weakness of the ocular muscles, usually associated with a pigmentary retinopathy. See: Kearns-Sayre syndrome, oculopharyngeal dystrophy. Synonym: ocular myopathy. (05 Mar 2000) |