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(al′drĭn) [Kurt Alder, Ger. chemist, 1902–1958 + -in] A derivative of chlorinated naphthalene used as an insecticide. It is a potent environmental toxin lethal to fish and mammals.
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(ă-len′drŏ-nāt″) A biphosphonate that stops osteoclasts from absorbing bone. It increases the density of bone and is used to treat and prevent osteoporosis and the fractures it causes.
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Alendronate is administered as a pill, which should be given to patients with a large glass of water to prevent it from lodging in the upper gastrointestinal tract and causing esophagitis. Patients should also maintain an upright posture for at least 30 min after taking the medicine.
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(ă-lep’ō) [Aleppo, a city in NW Syria] Cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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(ā″loo-kē′mē-ă) [a- + leukemia] A deficiency of white blood cells in the circulating blood.
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(al″ek-san′dĕr) [William Stewart Alexander, New Zealand pathologist, 1919–2013] ABBR: AD. One of four rare, inherited leukodystrophy syndromes, the most common types of which occur in infancy or early childhood.
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INCIDENCE: The disease is exceptionally rare; about 500 cases have been reported.
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CAUSES: Abnormal filaments, i.e., Rosenthal bodies, accumulate in astrocytes. These result from an autosomal dominant gain-of-function mutation of glial fibrillary acidic proteins (GFAPs).
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SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS: Type 1 (the early-onset form of AD) produces enlargement of the infant’s head (megalocephaly), along with failure to achieve neurological and psychiatric milestones and the occurrence of spasticity, failure to thrive, seizures, dementia, and, typically, early loss of life (by age 14).
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DIAGNOSIS: This disease is diagnosed by the presence of abnormal white matter signal changes on magnetic resonance imaging or spectroscopy. A crude diagnosis may be made through clinical symptoms (including macrocephaly). Brain biopsy specimens from patients show the accumulation of abnormal inclusion bodies within astrocytes.
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TREATMENT: There is no cure or standard therapy for AD, but it may respond to medications (such as ceftriaxone) that affect GFAP. However, care for most patients is supportive.
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IMPACT ON HEALTH: The prognosis is poor. With early onset, death usually occurs within 10 years; generally, the later the disease occurs, the slower its course.
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PATIENT CARE: Seizures associated with AD are managed with anticonvulsant drugs. Genetic counseling may be useful for family members although most cases of the disease are inherited sporadically. Consultations with a psychologist may help with behavioral difficulties. Speech therapists may help infants and children with feeding and language use.
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(al″ek-san′dĕr) [Frederick Matthias ...