Medical dictionary

What is being analysed here? Antithrombin is being analysed here. It is a protein produced by the liver, necessary for proper blood coagulation. The antithrombin test measures its activity (function) and quantity (antigen) in the blood. It evaluates whether there is a tendency to excessive clotting. What does the result mean? Low antithrombin levels may increase the risk of clotting.

What is being analysed? Antithyroid antibodies are substances produced by the immune system that mistakenly target the thyroid gland. The analysis involves measuring the levels of these antibodies in the blood.   What do elevated levels of antithyroid antibodies indicate? Elevated levels of antithyroid antibodies indicate autoimmune thyroid disease, such as Hashimoto's thy

How is anxiety defined?Anxiety disorder differs from simply feeling anxious, which is a normal response to a stressful situation, like making an important decision, or taking an exam. When anxiety becomes a medical problem, known as anxiety disorder, it can affect people at any time, causing constant fear and worry, often for intangible reasons, and can often make it difficult to ca

What is it? An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal, progressive and permanent dilation of part of the aorta, the largest artery in the body. The dilation of the aorta leads to its weakening over time and, sometimes, to its rupturing. An aneurysm can affect the abdominal tract (abdominal aortic aneurysm) as well as the thorax (thoracic aortic aneurysm).   Prognosis Aortic aneurys

What is aortic root surgery? Aortic root surgery is a surgical procedure for an enlarged aorta, often known as an aortic aneurysm. The aorta is a large blood vessel that transports blood from your heart to your body. The aortic root is the first segment of the aorta as it emerges from the heart. It holds the aortic valve and the coronary arteries.   Why is aortic root surgery do

What is aortic stenosis? Aortic stenosis is a heart defect characterised by the narrowing of the aortic valve opening. In turn, this narrowing restricts the flow of blood from the left ventricle to the aorta. It can result either from a congenital birth defect or in ageing patients where scarring and calcium deposits build up in the valve opening. Treatment may require surgical valve repai

What is aortic valve replacement? The aorta is the main blood vessel which carries blood from the heart to the rest of your body. The aortic valve opens and closes to allow blood to flow out of the heart.  Aortic valve replacement is a type of open heart surgery which consists of removing a faulty or damaged valve and replacing it with a new valve. The new valve is made from synethic ma

What is aortic valve replacement (minimally-invasive)? Minimally-invasive aortic valve replacement (MIAVR) uses a much smaller incision compared to traditional aortic valve replacement methods, which means patients recover much faster and the scar post-surgery is noticeably smaller too. MIAVR is used to treat patients with narrow or leaking valves who often complain of chest pains or shortness

What is apexification?   Apexification is a procedure performed by dentists to close an open tooth root, which may happen if the tooth root has not formed completely, for example. This is mainly due to childhood trauma or tooth decay, which forms a pulp necrosis (pulpitis).   This procedure is called apexification because it refers to the part of the tooth known as