Articles on Medical Diseases and Conditions

Entries Tagged ‘Laboratory findings’

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

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 […]

Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1)

The HIVs are retroviruses; their genetic information (genome) is composed of RNA rather than the usual DNA. To reproduce, the virus uses an enzyme known as reverse transcriptase to produce a DNA copy of its genetic RNA and incorporates this material into the host cell genetic material. Some of the copied viral genome also exists […]

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)

The Epstein-Barr virus is a member of the herpesvirus group and is reported to infect 80% or more of the U.S. population. It is thought to be spread from person to person, most likely through saliva, with the majority of infections occurring in childhood, adolescents, and young adults. The EBV infects B-lymphocytes. In common with […]

Hemolytic Anemias Due to Extracorpuscular Agents

Anemias due to isoagglutinins (isoantibodies) These anemias are hemolytic reactions caused by antibodies within the various blood group systems. The classification, symptomatology, and diagnostic procedures necessary for detection of such reactions and identification of the etiology are discussed in Chapter 9 and Chapter 11. Anemias due to autoagglutinins (autoantibodies) Autoagglutinins are antibodies produced by an […]