Diseases

Wallerian degeneration

Wallerian degeneration: A syndrome that is characterised by the degeneration of the peripheral nerve axon distal to its site of transection in the central nervous system.

Wandering spleen

Wandering spleen: A very rare birth defect where the structures (ligaments) that hold the spleen in position are absent or not developed properly which allows the spleen to move around in the abdominal cavity.

Warburg Sjo Fledelius syndrome

Warburg Sjo Fledelius syndrome: A syndrome that is characterised by visual and neurological problems as well as microgenitalia.

Warburton Anyane Yeboa syndrome

Warburton Anyane Yeboa syndrome: A syndrome that is characterised by the occurrence of aneuploidy that can be manifested as monosomies or trisomies

Warfarin syndrome

Warfarin syndrome (medical condition): Various physical and other abnormalities that can result from the use of the drug Warfarin during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Warm-reacting-antibody hemolytic anemia

Warm-reacting-antibody hemolytic anemia: A rare autoimmune condition where the body's defense system attacks and destroys red blood cells. The onset of the condition is triggered by temperatures 37ºC or lower. The severity of the disorder is variable.

Warman Mulliken Hayward syndrome

Warman Mulliken Hayward syndrome is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Warman Mulliken Hayward syndrome, or a subtype of Warman Mulliken Hayward syndrome, affects less than 2, people in the US population. This syndrome is a form of craniosynostosis.

Warthin’s tumor

Warthin's tumor or Warthin tumour, also known as papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum, is a type of benign tumor of the salivary glands.

Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome

Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome (WFS) is a disease of the adrenal glands most commonly caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. The infection leads to massive hemorrhage into one or (usually) both adrenal glands.[1] It is characterized by overwhelming bacterial infection meningococcemia, low blood pressure and shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with widespread purpura, and rapidly developing adrenocortical insufficiency.

Watermelon stomach

Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) is an uncommon cause of chronic gastrointestinal bleeding or iron deficiency anemia. The condition is associated with dilated small blood vessels in the antrum, or the last part of the stomach. It is also called watermelon stomach because streaky long red areas that are present in the stomach may resemble the markings on watermelon. GAVE is associated with a number of conditions, including portal hypertension, chronic renal failure, and collagen vascular diseases, particularly scleroderma. The endoscopic appearance of GAVE is similar to portal hypertensive gastropathy. GAVE is treated with treatment through the endoscope, including argon plasma coagulation and electrocautery. Other medical treatments have been tried and include estrogen and progesterone therapy and anti-fibrinolytic drugs such as tranexamic acid.

Watson syndrome

Watson syndrome (medical condition): A rare syndrome characterized by short stature, reduced intelligence, café au lait spots and narrowing of pulmonary valves.

WDHA syndrome

WDHA syndrome (medical condition): A syndrome characterized by watery diarrhea, hypokalemia and achlorhydria.

Weaver Johnson syndrome

Weaver Johnson syndrome: A syndrome that is characterised by craniosynostosis and cleft lip.

Weaver like syndrome

A rare genetic syndrome characterized by a large mouth, unusual facial features, skeletal anomalies and other abnormalities. The disorder is similar to another genetic disorder called Weaver syndrome but tends to involve endocrinologic abnormalities as well.

Weaver syndrome

Weaver syndrome is a rare congenital disorder associated with rapid growth beginning in the prenatal period and continuing through the toddler and youth years. It is characterized by advanced osseous maturation, and distinctive craniofacial, skeletal, and neurological abnormalities. It was first described by Dr. David Weaver in 1974.

Weber syndrome

Weber's syndrome (superior alternating hemiplegia) is a form of stroke characterized by the presence of an oculomotor nerve palsy and contralateral hemiparesis or hemiplegia. It is caused by midbrain infarction as a result of occlusion of the paramedian branches of the posterior cerebral artery or of basilar bifurcation perforating arteries. This lesion is usually unilateral and affects several structures in the midbrain including: substantia nigra, corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts, and the oculomotor nerve fibers. The lesioned substantia nigra causes contralateral parkinsonism because its dopaminergic projections to the basal ganglia innervate the contralateral hemisphere motor field. The corticospinal fibers affected produce contralateral hemiparesis and typical upper motor neuron findings. Damage to the corticobulbar tract will produce difficulty with contralateral lower facial muscles and hypoglossal nerve functions. The oculomotor nerve fibers that are affected lead to ipsilateral oculomotor nerve palsy with a drooping eyelid and fixed wide pupil pointed down and out. The oculomotor damage will likely lead to diplopia.

Weber-Christian disease

Weber-Christian disease is a skin condition that features recurring inflammation in the fat layer of the skin. The involved areas of skin manifest as recurrent crops of erythematous, sometimes tender, edematous subcutaneous nodules. The lesions are symmetric in distribution, and the thighs and lower legs are affected most frequently. Malaise, fever, and arthralgias frequently occur. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weight loss, and hepatomegaly may also occur. Because its etiology is unknown, Weber-Christian disease is often referred to as idiopathic lobular panniculitis.

Wegener’s Granulomatosis

Wegener's granulomatosis is a form of vasculitis that affects the lungs, kidneys and other organs. Due to its end-organ damage, it can be a serious disease that requires long-term immune suppression. It is named after Dr. Friedrich Wegener, who described the disease in 1936. Wegener's granulomatosis is part of a larger group of vasculitic syndromes, all of which feature the presence of an abnormal type of circulating antibody termed ANCAs (antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies) and affect small and medium-size blood vessels. Apart from Wegener's, this category includes Churg-Strauss syndrome and microscopic polyangiitis. Although Wegener's granulomatosis affects small and medium-sized vessels, it is formally classified as one of the small vessel vasculitides in the Chapel Hill system.

Wegmann Jones Smith syndrome

Wegmann Jones Smith syndrome: A syndrome which is characterised by the occurrence of short limbs, oedema and iris coloboma

Welander distal myopathy- Swedish type

Welander distal myopathy, Swedish type: A very slowly progressing muscle fiber degeneration that starts as mild weakness in the small muscles of hands and feet and may eventually spread to neighbouring muscles

Wells Jankovic syndrome

Wells Jankovic syndrome: A syndrome that is characterised with spastic paraparesis and deafness

Wells syndrome

Wells syndrome: A rare disorder affecting the skin and characterized by a flame-shaped patch of raised red skin which eventually undergoes changes such as blistering and altered color.

Werdnig-Hoffmann disease

Werdnig-Hoffmann disease (medical condition): A type of spinal muscular atrophy which is a progressive genetic motor neuron disease involving the nerves and muscles. The condition is relatively rare and is characterized by muscle weakness which leads to structural deformities

Werner’s syndrome

Werner Syndrome (WRN) is a very rare, autosomal recessive[1] disorder characterized by the appearance of premature aging.[2] Werner's syndrome more closely resembles accelerated aging than any other segmental progeria. For this reason, Werner syndrome is often referred to as a progeroid syndrome, as it partly mimics the symptoms of Progeria.