H

H (U) Henry (ies)

Haemoglobin A substance in the red blood cells, erythrocytes, the main task of which is the oxygen transport in the blood.

Haemolysis The destruction of erythrocytes, the red blood cells. Haemolysis leads to anaemia and an elevated production of bilirubin, a degradation product of haemoglobin, which can cause hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice.

Hamarto- (Pre) Mistake-

Hamartofobia A pathological fear of making mistakes

Hamartoma A benign tumour made up of mature cells normally found in the region. Rarely a malignant tumour may arise from a hamartoma.

HAV (Abbr) Hepatitis A virus

Havrix Trademark for a Hepatitis A Vaccine, made by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline

Halitosis An unpleasant odor from the mouth

HBcAg (Abbr) Hepatitis B core antigen

HBeAg (Abbr) Hepatitis B e antigen

HBsAg (Abbr) Hepatitis B surface antigen

HBV (Abbr) Hepatitis B virus

HCC (Abbr) Hepatocellular carcinoma

HCV (Abbr) Hepatitis C virus

HDV (Abbr) Hepatitis D (delta) virus

Heartburn A substernal burning feeling usually due to reflux from the stomach into the oesophagus

Helicobacter heilmanny is a bacteria belonging to the Helicobacter group. It is much more rare than Helicobacter pylori. An association with gastric cancer and MALT lymphoma has been described. Formerly called Gastrospirillum hominis

Helicobacter-gastritis The most common form of inflammation in the gastric mucosa, caused by infection with Helicobacter Pylori.

Hemochromatosis A genetic, hereditary disease where a mutation in the HFE gene cause an increased intestinal iron absorption. As iron cannot be excreted from the body, the increased absorption causes iron accumulation in several organs, mainly the liver, pancreas and heart. If untreated it results in liver cirrhosis with a significantly high risk for liver cancer, and secondary diabetes. The main treatment is repeated phlebotomies, until the excess body iron has been removed. Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disease and the first degree relatives should be screened. If treatment is initiated before the patient has any liver cirrhosis, the prognose is excellent.

Hemorrhoidectomy Surgical removal of hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids See Haemorrhoids.

Hepatic Relating to the liver

Hepatic failure Liver failure, (severe) impairment of liver function due to a liver disease. Hepatic failure can be acute, fulminant or subfulminant - or chronic.

Hepatic hydrothorax Pleural effusion in a patient with liver cirrhosis (and most often ascites). Hepatic hydrothorax is a rare but severe finding, as it indicates end stage liver disease, where liver transplantation should be considered.

Hepatitis Inflammation in the liver, due to viral infection, drugs or alchohol.

Hepatitis A A viral acute hepatitis caused by the Hepatitis A virus, belonging till the Picornaviridae-family. The transmission route is faecal-oral. The disease is usually selflimiting, it very seldomly becomes fulminant and never goes into a chronic state. There is no treatment, but the disease can be prevented by good hygien. A vaccine from killed virus is available and effective.

Hepatitis B A viral hepatitis caused by the Hepatitis B-virus, a Orthohepadnavirus. The transmission route is parenteral. A fulminant course is uncommon, but the infection is often chronic causing liver cirrhosis and an elevated risk of liver cancer. B-hepatitis can be treated by Lamivudin and in some cases by Interferon. The disease can be prevented by vaccination.

Hepatitis C A viral hepatitis caused by the Hepatitis C-virus, a Flaviviridae-virus. The transmission route is parenteral. A fulminant course is rare but the disease is very often chronic, causing liver cirrhosis and an elevated risk of liver cancer. The disease can easily be avoided by avoiding blood contact with infected people (for example dirty needles). No vaccine is available against Hepatitis C.

Hepatitis D A viral hepatitis caused by the Deltavirus. The transmission route is parenteral, and this hepatitis affect only patients who already have B-hepatitis. A fulminant course is common, and the course of this disease is usually chronic, causing an elevated risk of liver cancer. Interferon may be partly effective in some patients.

Hepatitis E A viral hepatitis, mostly affecting people in developing countries, and especially dangerous when affecting pregnant women, where the course often is fulminant.

Hepatitis F A viral hepatitis described by Deca in 1994. The existence of this disease has not been proved later and the Hepatitis F virus described is probably a non-pathogenic virus.

Hepatitis G A viral hepatitis described in 1996. The nature and significance of this viral hepatitis is still under investigation

Hepatitis GB A viral hepatitis caused by the GB-virus-C, probably the same disease as Hepatitis G

Hepato- (Pre) Liver-

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Liver cancer, one of the most common malignancies in the world, especially in countries where chronic B-hepatitis is common. Cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis (B- or C-hepatitis), hemochromatosis or alchohol abuse is the main etiologic factor. HCC is a serious disease, where radical surgical treatment is the only curative treatment.

Hepatogenital syndrome A rare syndrome chararcterized by a premature puberty due to a hormonproducing liver tumor.

Hepatolenticular degeneration Another name for Wilson´s disease. See Wilson´s disease.

Hepatomegaly Enlarged, too large liver

Hepatopulmonary syndrome A syndrome occuring in patients with chronic liver diseases, where the typical findings are vascular dilations in the lungs and impaired oxygenation. Dyspnea is the common symptom, nail clubbing and cyanosis being the common findings. One year after liver transplantation most of the patients are quite symptomfree. A beneficial effect of garlic has been suggested.

Hepatorenal syndrome A severe complication of liver cirrhosis or other severe liver diseases. The typical features of hepatorenal syndrome is renal dysfunction caused by abnormalities in the arterial circulation and the vasoactive systems, resulting in renal vasoconstriction and renal insufficiency. Hepatorenal syndrome can be divided into two types, in type I the renal function is rapidly reduced, in type II the renal failure does not progress rapidly.

Hepatotesticular syndrome Hypofunction of the testes in a patient with liver cirrhosis

Hepsera (RTM) An antiviral drug containing adefovir dipivoxil, used in the treatment of Hepatitis B.

Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC) is a hereditary syndrome characterized by a very high risk of colorectal cancer and an increased risk of other cancers, especially endometrial cancer. The risk of colorectal cancer is over 80% and regular screening for cancer is obligatory in patients that hav this identifiable genetic syndomre.

Herter, Christian Archibald (1865 - 1910) An American Internist working in New York and known for his investigations concerning the disease now known as coeliac disease.

Herter-Heubner´s syndrome An old name of the disease now known as coeliac disease or gluten enteropathy

Herter´s disease An old name of the disease now known as coeliac disease or gluten enteropathy

Heubner-Herter´s infantilism An old name of the disease now known as coeliac disease or gluten enteropathy

HFE-gene See Gene

5-HIAA (Abbr) 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid

Hill procedure A surgical procedure used in the treatment of reflux disease. This technically demanding operation can be performed laparoscopically.

Hirschsprung´s disease A bowel disease the typical feature of which is lack of nerve cells (ganglion cells) in a segment of the bowel, leading to a diminished motility in that part of the bowel, most often in the rectum or the very distal colon. This disease, which also is called congenital intestinal aganglionosis, is named after dr Harald Hirschsprung, who identified it in 1886. Barium enema and rectal biopsy gives a firm diagnosis. The disease causes symtoms in the very early childhood and the treatment is surgical, the first procedure is often a temporary colostomy or ileostomy.

HLA (Abbr) Human Leucocyte Antigen

HNPCC See Hereditary NonPolyposis Colorectal Cancer

HRCT (Abbr) High Resolution Computed Tomography

HRS (Abbr) See Hepatorenal syndrome

HRT (Abbr) Hormone Replacement Therapy, for example using estrogen in postmenopausal age.

5-HT (Abbr) 5-Hydroxytryptamine

Hurst dilator A dilator used for the bougienage of oesophageal strictures.

HUS (Abbr) Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome

Hyper- (pre) Over, too much. For example hypertension, too high (blood-)pressure.

Hyperbilirubinemia A bilirubin concentration above the normal value (19 micromol/l). When the bilirubin value rise over the double, visible jaundice occurs. The most common cause of hyperbilirubinemia is Gilberts syndrome. Hyperbilirubinemia can be "prehepatic", caused by excess production of bilirubin in the body, "hepatic", due to some liver tissue damage (for example hepatitis) or "posthepatic", due to obstruction of the bile outflow. The posthepatic hyperbilirubinemia is also called obstructive hyperbilirubinemia, and the obstruction can be intrahepatic or extrahepatic.

Hyperplasia Tissue overgrowth due to an increased cell number.

Hypo- (pre) Below, too little. For example hypotension, too low (blood-)pressure.

Hz (U) Hertz