MedicalCRITERIA.com

The Rockall Scoring System

8 July, 2011 Guillermo Firman

The Rockall score is an established and useful system to assess upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). The Rockall system has been shown to represent an accurate and valid predictor of rebleeding and death, performing better in the latter than in the former. Rockall scores are designed to combine information such as the subject’s age, occurrence of shock assessed from systolic blood pressure readings and pulse rate, presence and severity of comorbid conditions, diagnosis and endoscopic stigmata of recent bleeding.
Continue reading “The Rockall Scoring System”

ICSD Diagnostic Criteria for Narcolepsy

5 July, 2011 Guillermo Firman

Narcolepsy is a disorder of impaired expression of wakefulness and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. This manifests as excessive daytime sleepiness and expression of individual physiological correlates of REM sleep that include cataplexy and sleep paralysis (REM sleep atonia intruding into wakefulness), impaired maintenance of REM sleep atonia (e.g. REM sleep behaviour disorder [RBD]), and dream imagery intruding into wakefulness (e.g. hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations). Excessive sleepiness typically begins in the second or third decade followed by expression of auxiliary symptoms.
Continue reading “ICSD Diagnostic Criteria for Narcolepsy”

Diagnosis of Gilbert’s Syndrome

4 July, 2011 Guillermo Firman

Gilbert syndrome is a genetic condition and this autosomal recessive condition is characterized by intermittent jaundice in the absence of hemolysis or liver disease.
The hyperbilirubinemia is mild. By definition, bilirubin levels in Gilbert syndrome are lower than 6 mg/dL, though most patients exhibit levels lower than 3 mg/dL. Gilbert syndrome is the result of a genetic mutation in the promoter region of a gene for the enzyme UGT1A (bilirubin–uridine diphosphate glucuronyl transferase).
Continue reading “Diagnosis of Gilbert’s Syndrome”

Scoring the BODE Index

28 June, 2011 Guillermo Firman

The BODE is a multidimensional index designed to assess clinical risk in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It combines four important variables into a single score: (B) body mass index; (O) airflow obstruction measured by the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1); (D) dyspnoea measured by the modified Medical Research Council (MRC) scale; and (E) exercise capacity measured by the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD). Each component is graded and a score out of 10 is obtained, with higher scores indicating greater risk. The BODE index reflects the impact of both pulmonary and extrapulmonary factors on prognosis and survival in COPD.
Continue reading “Scoring the BODE Index”

Traditional Diagnostic Criteria for Hereditary Hemochromatosis

18 June, 2011 Guillermo Firman

Hereditary hemochromatosis has been traditionally defined as an inherited disorder characterized by inappropriately high absorption of dietary iron, which leads to abnormal accumulation of iron in parenchymal organs. In 1996, the HFE gene was isolated on chromosome 6. Since this finding hereditary hemochromatosis has been defined by some as the presence of a homozygous defect in the HFE gene with direct or indirect evidence of iron overload.
Continue reading “Traditional Diagnostic Criteria for Hereditary Hemochromatosis”

Criteria for the Diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

26 May, 2011 Guillermo Firman

Borderline personality disorder is a chronic psychiatric disorder characterized by marked impulsivity, instability of mood and interpersonal relationships, and suicidal behaviour that can complicate medical care. Identifying this diagnosis is important for treatment planning.
Continue reading “Criteria for the Diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)”

Revised Diagnostic Criteria for Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)

24 May, 2011 Guillermo Firman

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO; Devic syndrome) is a clinically defined, severe CNS demyelinating syndrome characterized by optic neuritis (ON) and acute myelitis; the presence of CNS symptoms outside the optic nerves and spinal cord has until recently excluded the diagnosis.
Continue reading “Revised Diagnostic Criteria for Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)”

Definitions of Laboratory and Clinical Tumor Lysis Syndrome

12 May, 2011 Guillermo Firman

The tumor lysis syndrome is the most common disease-related emergency encountered by physicians caring for children or adults with hematologic cancers. This syndrome occurs when tumor cells release their contents into the bloodstream, either spontaneously or in response to therapy, leading to the characteristic findings of hyperuricemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hypocalcemia. These electrolyte and metabolic disturbances can progress to clinical toxic effects, including renal insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, and death due to multiorgan failure.
Continue reading “Definitions of Laboratory and Clinical Tumor Lysis Syndrome”

Signs and Symptoms of Acute Radiation Sickness

25 April, 2011 Guillermo Firman

Acute radiation sickness can be categorized into three phases: prodrome, latency, and illness. The Table, summarizes the constellation of hematologic, gastrointestinal, and neurologic symptoms, along with the time to onset and dose dependence, associated with each of these phases.
Continue reading “Signs and Symptoms of Acute Radiation Sickness”

Diagnostic Criteria for Reiter´s Syndrome or Reactive Arthritides (ReA)

11 March, 2011 Guillermo Firman

Reactive arthritis (ReA) is an inflammatory arthritis that arises after certain types of gastrointestinal or genitourinary infections. It belongs to the group of arthritidies known as the spondyloarthropathies (SpAs). The classic syndrome is a triad of symptoms, including the urethra, conjunctiva, and synovium; however, the majority of patients do not present with this classic triad. In general, there are two forms of ReA, postvenereal (Chlamydia trachomatis [Ct]) and postdysentery (Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and Yersinia), but several other bacteria have been implicated as potential causes.

Continue reading “Diagnostic Criteria for Reiter´s Syndrome or Reactive Arthritides (ReA)”

Unifying Concepts

The Rockall Scoring System

ICSD Diagnostic Criteria for Narcolepsy

Diagnosis of Gilbert’s Syndrome

Scoring the BODE Index

Traditional Diagnostic Criteria for Hereditary Hemochromatosis

Criteria for the Diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

Revised Diagnostic Criteria for Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)

Definitions of Laboratory and Clinical Tumor Lysis Syndrome

Signs and Symptoms of Acute Radiation Sickness

Diagnostic Criteria for Reiter´s Syndrome or Reactive Arthritides (ReA)

Language:

Users Online

Search

Medical Disclaimer

Recent Posts

Categories