Glossary of Medical Writing Terms

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. A rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow characterised by the overproduction of immature lymphocyte cells, primarily affecting children.

Acute Kidney Injury. A sudden and often reversible decline in kidney function caused by factors such as decreased blood flow, kidney tissue damage, or urinary tract obstruction, requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications and potential progression to CKD.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration. A progressive eye condition that primarily affects older adults and leads to deterioration of the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. This can result in blurred or distorted vision, making it difficult to perform tasks such as reading or recognising faces.

Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. A fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow characterised by the rapid proliferation of abnormal myeloid cells.

Biochemical Recurrence. A rise in PSA levels after primary treatment of prostate cancer, indicating the potential presence of residual or recurrent cancer cells, even though there may be no visible evidence of disease on imaging studies.

Cerebral Adrenoleukodystrophy. A rare genetic disorder causing the accumulation of fatty acids in the brain, leading to progressive neurological degeneration.

`Cystic Fibrosis. A genetic disorder that affects the lungs, digestive system, and other organs in the body. It causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, leading to life-threatening lung infections, and prevents digestive enzymes from reaching the intestines, causing difficulty absorbing nutrients.

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. A rare autoimmune disorder characterised by progressive weakness and sensory disturbances due to inflammation and damage to the peripheral nerves' myelin sheath. Symptoms may include muscle weakness, numbness, tingling, and impaired coordination, and the condition typically presents gradually and worsens over time. Treatment often involves immunosuppressive therapy to reduce inflammation and manage symptoms.

Chronic Kidney Disease. A long-term condition where the kidneys gradually lose their function over time, leading to a buildup of waste and fluid in the body. CKD is typically characterised by reduced kidney function, indicated by a decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) or markers of kidney damage, and it can progress through stages of increasing severity. Common causes include diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain kidney diseases.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia. A slowly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow characterised by the overproduction of abnormal lymphocytes, primarily affecting older adults.

Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia. A cancer of the bone marrow marked by excessive production of immature myeloid cells, progressing through chronic, accelerated, and blast crisis phases if untreated.

Cytomegalovirus. A common virus belonging to the herpesvirus family. It can cause mild or no symptoms in healthy individuals but can lead to severe complications in people with weakened immune systems, such as newborns, transplant recipients, and those with HIV/AIDS.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. A chronic inflammatory lung disease that obstructs airflow from the lungs.

Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infections. Infections affecting organs or structures within the abdomen that require advanced medical intervention such as antibiotics and sometimes surgery due to their complexity or severity.

Complicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections. Infections that involve deeper layers of the skin, such as cellulitis, necrotising fasciitis, and infected ulcers, and may extend to surrounding soft tissues. They often require more extensive medical intervention, such as antibiotics, surgical debridement, or drainage, due to their complexity or severity compared to uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections.

Complicated Urinary Tract Infections. Infections of the urinary tract that involve additional complications, such as structural abnormalities, urinary tract obstruction, or antibiotic resistance, necessitating more complex medical management.

Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma. An aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterised by rapidly growing masses of abnormal B-cells in lymph nodes or other organs.

Diabetes Mellitus. A group of diseases that result in too much sugar in the blood.

Diabetic Macular Oedema. A complication of diabetes that occurs when fluid accumulates in the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp vision, leading to swelling and distortion of vision.

Dravet Syndrome. A rare and severe form of epilepsy that typically begins in infancy, characterised by prolonged and recurrent seizures, often triggered by fever or hot temperatures, along with developmental delays, cognitive impairment, and other neurological and behavioural issues.

Deep Vein Thrombosis. The formation of blood clots in the deep veins, typically in the legs, which can lead to serious complications such as pulmonary embolism.

End-Stage Renal Disease. The final stage of CKD where kidney function is severely impaired, usually less than 10-15% of normal. At this stage, the kidneys are no longer able to function well enough to meet the body's needs, requiring kidney replacement therapy such as dialysis or kidney transplantation for survival.

Follicular Lymphoma. A slow-growing type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterised by the abnormal proliferation of B-cells within lymph nodes, often forming small, rounded structures called follicles.

Guillain–Barré syndrome. A rare neurological disorder where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nervous system, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and potentially life-threatening complications.

Heart Failure. A medical condition characterised by the heart's inability to pump blood effectively, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid retention, often resulting from underlying cardiovascular diseases or other health conditions

Human Papillomavirus. A group of viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes of humans. Some types of HPV can cause warts, while others are sexually transmitted and can lead to various cancers, including cervical, anal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers.

Localised prostate cancer. Cancerous growth confined within the prostate gland that has not spread to other parts of the body, typically presenting with a favourable prognosis.

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. A severe form of epilepsy that typically begins in childhood and is characterised by multiple types of seizures, including tonic (stiffening), atonic (drop attacks), and atypical absence seizures, along with intellectual disability and abnormal EEG patterns.

Mantle Cell Lymphoma. A subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterised by the abnormal proliferation of B-cells originating from the mantle zone of the lymph node, typically presenting as aggressive disease with a tendency to relapse.

Myocardial Infarction. Commonly known as a heart attack.

Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. Prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and is no longer responsive to hormone therapy.

Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer. Prostate cancer that has spread beyond the prostate gland to other parts of the body and continues to respond to hormone therapy. It is typically treated with hormone therapy along with other treatments such as chemotherapy or targeted therapy.

Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I. Also known as Hurler syndrome, this is a rare genetic disorder caused by the deficiency of the enzyme alpha-L-iduronidase, leading to the accumulation of complex sugars called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in various tissues and organs of the body. MPS I can result in a range of symptoms, including skeletal abnormalities, organ enlargement, developmental delays, and progressive neurological deterioration.

Multiple Sclerosis. A chronic neurological condition characterised by inflammation, demyelination, and scarring in the CNS. This can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, impaired mobility, muscle weakness, numbness or tingling, and problems with coordination and vision. The severity and progression of MS can vary greatly among individuals.

Non-Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. A stage of prostate cancer where the disease has become resistant to hormonal therapies but has not yet spread to other parts of the body, typically requiring close monitoring and potentially alternative treatments to delay or prevent the onset of metastasis.

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder. A rare autoimmune disease primarily affecting the optic nerves and spinal cord. It is characterised by recurrent episodes of optic neuritis and myelitis, leading to vision loss, weakness, sensory disturbances, and other neurological symptoms.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. The most common type of lung cancer, comprising various subtypes such as adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma, with distinct characteristics and treatment approaches compared to small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Primary Immunodeficiency. A group of disorders in which there is an intrinsic defect in the immune system that impairs the body's ability to fight infections. Primary immunodeficiencies are caused by genetic defects that can lead to an absent or dysfunctional immune response. This makes people with PIDs more susceptible to recurrent infections, as well as an increased risk of autoimmune disorders, allergies, and cancer.

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria. A rare and acquired blood disorder characterised by the abnormal breakdown of red blood cells (haemolysis), leading to symptoms such as dark urine, fatigue, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, and blood clots. It is caused by a mutation in the PIG-A gene, resulting in the deficiency of certain proteins on the surface of blood cells, making them susceptible to destruction by the immune system.

Secondary Immunodeficiency. A condition in which the immune system becomes impaired or compromised due to an underlying disease, medical treatment, or other external factors, rather than an inherited genetic cause.

Transfusion-Dependent Thalassemia. A severe form of thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder characterised by reduced production of haemoglobin. In TDT, the affected individual requires regular blood transfusions to maintain adequate haemoglobin levels and prevent complications associated with anaemia.

Transient Ischaemic Attack. Often called a mini-stroke.

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. A rare genetic disorder characterised by the growth of benign tumours in various organs of the body, including the brain, kidneys, heart, lungs, skin, and eyes, often leading to seizures, developmental delays, intellectual disability, skin abnormalities, and other health problems.

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. A rare and serious blood disorder characterised by blood clots forming in small blood vessels throughout the body. This leads to a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia) and can cause symptoms such as bruising, purpura, neurological abnormalities, fever, and kidney problems. TTP is often caused by a deficiency in the enzyme ADAMTS13, which is responsible for breaking down large von Willebrand factor proteins.

Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections. Infections of the urinary tract typically limited to the bladder and not associated with any structural abnormalities or systemic illness.

Venous Thromboembolism. A medical condition encompassing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), which involve the formation of blood clots in veins, often leading to serious health risks.