What is antithrombin deficiency? Antithrombin deficiency is a condition where a natural anti-clotting agent in the blood, known as antithrombin III, is either deficient or dysfunctional. It can be inherited or may be acquired in life. The condition can lead to serious complications when clots form in the circulation and >> Read More ...
What is Behcet disease? Behcet disease is a condition marked by the repeated formation of open sores (ulcers) in the mouth, on the genitals, skin lesions and inflammation of the uvea of the eye. It is also known as Behcet’s syndrome since it is a collection of different symptoms without a clear explanation for the >> Read More ...
Respiratory Acidosis Definition Respiratory acidosis refers to the condition in which body fluids, especially the blood, become too acidic due to higher than normal levels of carbon dioxide. It is an indication that breathing (ventilation) is not adequately expelling the carbon dioxide from the body. There are a number of >> Read More ...
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Definition Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a rare life threatening bleeding disorder. This condition is characterized by a defective clotting mechanism. DIC causes thrombosis (excessive clotting) or hemorrhage (bleeding) throughout the body. The clotting cells or >> Read More ...
Blood iron disorders involve either the excess, deficiency or abnormal utilization of iron in the blood. In most cases this affects the blood and tissue oxygenation as the red blood cells are responsible for gas exchange between the blood and environment. Red blood cells contain an iron-protein (metalloprotein) compound >> Read More ...
What Is Protein Losing Enteropathy? In protein losing enteropathy (Greek enteron = intestine; pathy = disease), proteins are lost through the gut wall into the gut hollow, resulting in low blood proteins and leg swelling. Proteins are lost through the damaged gut wall (see causes bellow) or through intact gut wall >> Read More ...
What is lupus? Lupus is a common term to describe a group of autoimmune diseases more correctly known as lupus erythematosus. There are several distinct types of lupus which can be broadly divided into systemic, where the entire body is affected, or cutaneous, where it is restricted mostly to the skin. It may be further >> Read More ...
Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell known as granulocytes. An eosinophil plays an important part in immune response within the body and changes in eosinophil blood cell count may be noted with certain allergic conditions and infections. Peripheral Blood Eosinophil Count Values or Readings Any abnormality in >> Read More ...
Diabetes is a term for glucose intolerance where the body cannot adequately manage the blood glucose levels. This is usually caused by insulin resistance (intolerance), reduced levels of insulin or the absence of insulin. Insulin is the hormone secreted by the pancreas that helps regulate blood glucose levels. When insulin >> Read More ...
Normal and Poor Immune System The immune system comprises from immune cells, like white blood cells, antibodies and other substances that fight against microbes and thus defend us against infections. We may suspect that our immune system is low (poor, weak, deficient) when we suffer from frequent infections (like >> Read More ...
