What Are Anti-Endomysium Antibodies? Anti-endomysium antibodies (EmA) are connective tissue autoantibodies produced in persons who have inherited the genes for celiac disease, an autoimmune disease, and are reacting to gluten in their diet. Autoantibodies are abnormal in that they attack ...
Read More »Anti-Gliadin Antibodies Present
What Are Anti-Gliadin Antibodies? Anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) are produced by the body as an immune response against partially digested gliadin peptides (fragments) that have abnormally entered the body from the intestinal tract. Gliadin is a protein in wheat grain. Anti-gliadin antibodies circulating ...
Read More »Bone Alkaline Phosphatase (BALP), Elevated
What Is Elevated Bone Alkaline Phosphatase? Elevated bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) is a laboratory result that indicates an abnormal blood level of this bone enzyme. A bone alkaline phosphatase blood level is one of the most frequently used biochemical markers of ...
Read More »Anti-tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies (tTG) Present In Blood
What Are Anti-tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies? Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (anti-tTG) are connective tissue autoantibodies and can be detected in blood samples from affected persons who are reacting to gluten in the diet. Autoantibodies are abnormal because they attack the body’s own ...
Read More »Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia
What Is Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia? Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is a megaloblastic anemia that is characterized by defective DNA synthesis of red blood cells due to a lack of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is essential for normal blood cell formation. ...
Read More »Delayed Puberty in Boys
What Is Delayed Puberty in Boys? Delayed puberty in boys is characterized by lack of growth and functional activity of the male gonads, called testes or testicals, to produce testosterone by age 14 and failure to grow pubic hair by age 15. ...
Read More »Hair Loss (Diffuse Alopecia): definition
Diffuse alopecia is characterized by abnormal hair loss or baldness.
Read More »Alopecia, Diffuse (Hair Loss): definition
Diffuse alopecia is characterized by abnormal hair loss or baldness.
Read More »Bleeding: Fecal Occult Blood In Children
What Is Fecal Occult Blood In Children? The presence of fecal occult blood in children is caused by minimal bleeding of less than a tablespoon a day in the gastrointestinal tract which leads to iron deficiency. Bleeding is abnormal and ...
Read More »Delayed Puberty In Girls
What Is Delayed Puberty In Girls? Delayed puberty in girls is a concerning condition characterized by decreased functional activity of the ovaries resulting in late onset of ovulation and secondary sex characteristics. Q: When should puberty in girls begin? A: ...
Read More »Hypotonia
What Is Hypotonia? Hypotonia is impairment of muscle contraction that is characterized by abnormally low muscle tension or flaccid muscles. Normally, even when relaxed, muscles have a very small amount of contraction or tone that gives them a springy feel and provides ...
Read More »Anemia, Refractory Iron Deficiency In Childhood (Unresponsive To Iron)
What Is Refractory Iron Deficiency Anemia In Childhood? Refractory iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a microcytic (small cell) type anemia. It is characterized by formation of abnormally small, pale red blood cells and iron depletion, or inadequate iron content in ...
Read More »Failure To Thrive And Growth Retardation
What Is Failure To Thrive And Growth Retardation? Failure to thrive (FTT) and growth retardation are conditions affecting children characterized by weight consistently below the 3rd percentile for age or a decrease in the expected rate of growth based on ...
Read More »Spina Bifida
What Is Spina Bifida? Spina bifida is a congenital defect of neural tube closure and among the commonest and most severe disorders of the fetus and newborn.1 Spina bifida is a defect in the walls of the spinal canal in ...
Read More »Anemia, Severe Iron Deficiency In Pregnancy
What Is Severe Iron Deficiency Anemia In Pregnancy? Severe iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy is characterized by abnormal formation of small, pale red blood cells that impair the ability of the fetus to obtain adequate oxygen for proper growth and ...
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