Medical science, drawn into focus.

Selective IgA Deficiency 

Overview Selective IgA deficiency is the most common primary immunodeficiency, defined by very low or absent serum IgA levels with normal levels of other immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM). Many patients are asymptomatic, but some develop recurrent mucosal infections, allergic disease, or autoimmune disorders. Prevalence is estimated at 1:300 to 1:700 in Caucasian populations. Diagnosis is often…

Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

Overview EGPA (formerly Churg-Strauss syndrome) is a rare, small-to-medium vessel necrotizing vasculitis characterized by asthma, eosinophilia, and extravascular granulomas. It commonly affects the lungs, skin, peripheral nerves, and heart. Annual incidence: ~1–3 per million; peak onset in 40s–60s; no significant gender bias. Strongly associated with MPO-ANCA positivity in ~40–60% of patients; others are ANCA-negative. Eosinophilia…

Peripheral Arterial Disease (Chronic Lower Limb Ischaemia)

 Overview Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI): Ratio of ankle to brachial systolic blood pressure, determined using Doppler ultrasound flow. Claudication: Pain, ache, or cramp in muscles that increases with walking or leg exertion in a predictable manner and resolves with rest. Peripheral arterial disease: Atherosclerosis leading to narrowing of the major arteries distal to the aortic arch.…

Cushing's Disease

Overview Cushing's disease is a ACTH dependent syndrome characterised by excess corticosteroid production from the adrenal glands. It is ACTH dependent because it is triggered by an ACTH-secreting pituitary tumour. Cushing's syndrome is an over arching term to describe hypercortisolaemia dependent of independent of ACTH. Adrenal Cushing's syndrome is different because it is hypercortisolaemia independent…

Cardiac Arrest (including post-arrest care)

Overview Cardiac arrest is a state of circulatory failure due to a loss of cardiac systolic function. It is the result of 4 specific cardiac rhythm disturbances: Ventricular fibrillation Pulseless ventricular tachycardia Pulseless Electrical activity Asystole Epidemiology Survival is estimated at <20% for patients presenting out-of-hospital with VF, and <10% overall for patients presenting with…

Felty Syndrome

Overview Felty syndrome is a rare but serious extra-articular manifestation of long-standing, seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA), characterized by the classic triad of RA, splenomegaly, and neutropenia. It was first described in 1924 by the US-American physician Augustus Roi Felty. It most commonly occurs after at least 10 years of poorly controlled RA and is associated…

Hyper-IgE Syndrome (Job’s Syndrome)

Overview Hyper-IgE syndrome (HIES) is a rare primary immunodeficiency characterised by markedly elevated serum IgE, recurrent staphylococcal skin and lung infections, eczema, and connective tissue/ skeletal abnormalities. Most commonly caused by autosomal dominant mutations in STAT3 , it results in impaired Th17 cell differentiation and defective neutrophil chemotaxis. Autosomal recessive forms (DOCK8, TYK2 mutations) present…

Full resource library