Associated Disorders

What Is Primary Biliary Cirrhosis? Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a biliary tract disease characterized by chronic cholestasis (build-up of bile) and gradual destruction of bile ducts within the liver, called intrahepatic bile ducts, caused by chronic inflammation. Primary biliary ...

What Is Autoimmune Cholangitis? Autoimmune cholangitis is a rare inflammatory self-targeted disease of the biliary tract produced by high levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Autoimmune cholangitis is characterized by progressive inflammation and scarring that leads to ...

What Are Chronic Oral Mucosal Lesions? Chronic lesions of the oral mucosa are disorders of the mouth that are characterized by soreness and sores of the soft mucosal lining of the mouth. What Are Chronic Oral Mucosal Lesions In Celiac ...

What Are Aphthous Ulcers? Aphthous ulcers, also called canker sores, are a chronic disorder of soft mouth tissue characterized by small, painful purpuric, papular, or erosive lesions that are often surrounded by erythematous (red) margins.1 Q: What soft mouth tissues develop ...

What Is Loss of Vitality? Loss of vitality is a state of diminished power to live or go on living, interfering with normal functioning and survival. As weakness and fatigue worsen, the affected person increasingly loses interest in surroundings, activites, and ...

What Is Cardiomegaly? Cardiomegaly is a non-inflammatory disorder of the myocardium (heart muscle) causing the heart to enlarge. Q: What happens when the heart enlarges? A:The heart enlarges because excessive growth of muscle tissue (hypertrophy) thickens the heart walls which in ...

What Is Transient Erythroblastopenia? Transient erythroblastopenia is a rare disorder of red blood cell formation characterized by brief, reversible disappearance of erythroblasts (red blood cell precursors) in the bone marrow of children. Q: What do the red blood cells look ...

What Is Neutropenia? Neutropenia  is a blood disorder characterized by presence of an abnormally low number of neutrophils. Neutrophils are white blood cells (leukocytes) that serves as the primary defense against infections by destroying bacteria in the blood.  Specfically, neutrophils are ...

What Is Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura? Immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP), formerly called idiopathic, is an immune mediated bleeding disorder characterized by destruction of circulating platelets (thrombocytes) by autoantibodies in the presence of normal bone marrow and without other conditions that cause ...

What Is Hemochromatosis? Hemochromatosis, also called iron overload liver disease, is a common inherited disease in the Caucasian population that is characterized by increased iron deposition within the tissues (overload) associated with injury to them. Hemochromatosis is an autosomal recessive disease, meaning ...

What Is Grave’s Disease (Hyperthyroidism)? Grave’s disease, or hyperthyroidism, is an autoimmune thyroid disease characterized by diffuse nontender goiter, elevated thyroxine hormone levels (T4, T3), suppressed thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and presence of thyroid receptor antibodies in the blood. The ...