Articles on Medical Diseases and Conditions

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic disease whose most prominent symptom is inflammation of joints. The small joints of the hands and feet, especially the proximal interphalangeal joints, are most frequently affected; involvement of larger joints of the extremities is somewhat less frequent, and occasionally nonextremity joints may be affected. Polyarticular involvement is much […]

Diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile related to antibiotic therapy was discussed previously. Many cases of diarrhea produced by bacterial infection are also part of the spectrum of “food poisoning.” Clostridium botulinum generates a preformed neurotoxin and in adults is associated with improperly canned food. Usually there is no diarrhea. The organism was discussed earlier with […]

When CML has the typical picture of a WBC count more than 100,000/mm3 (100 x 109/L) with myelocytic predominance, increased platelets, and basophilia, the diagnosis is reasonably safe. Otherwise, the two conditions that most frequently enter the differential diagnosis are agnogenic myeloid metaplasia and leukemoid reaction. CML tends to have a greater degree of leukocytosis […]