Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

Alveolitis usually causes a dry cough

and breathing difficulty on exertion. A

chest X-ray, blood tests, pulmonary

function tests,or a lung biopsymay be

needed to diagnose alveolitis.

For most types of alveolitis, a short

course of corticosteroid drugsrelieves

symptoms, butfor fibrosing alveolitis

these may need to be taken indefinitely.

If the cause of allergic alveolitis is rec-

ognized and avoided before lung damage

occurs, the effects are not permanent.

In fibrosing alveolitis, damage progresses

despite treatment, causing increasing

breathing difficulty and, sometimes,

respiratory failure.

alveoloplastyDental surgery to remove

protuberances and smooth out uneven

areas from tooth-bearing bone in the

jaw before the fitting of dentures.

alveolus, dentalThe bony cavity or

socket supporting each tooth in the jaw.

alveolus, pulmonaryOne of a large

number of tiny, balloon-like sacs at the

end of a bronchiole (one of many small

air passages in the lungs) where gases

are exchanged during respiration.

Alzheimer’s diseaseA progressive con-

ditionin which nerve cells in the brain

degenerate and the brain shrinks. Alz-

heimer’s disease is the most common

cause of dementia. Onset is uncommon

before the age of 60.

Early onset Alzheimer's disease, in

which symptoms develop before age 60,

is inherited as a dominantdisorder. Late

onset Alzheimer's disease is associated

with a number of genes, including 3 that

are responsible for the production of

the blood protein apolipoprotein E.

These genes also result in the depo-

sition of a protein called beta amyloid

in the brain. Other chemical abnorm-

alities may include deficiency of the

neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

The features of Alzheimer’s disease

vary, but there are 3 broad stages. At

first, the person becomes increasingly

forgetful, and problems with memory

may cause anxietyand depression. In

the 2nd stage, loss of memory, par-

ticularly for recent events, gradually

becomes more severe, and there may

be disorientation as to time or place.

The person’s concentration and num-

erical ability decline, and there is

noticeable dysphasia(inability to find

the right word). Anxiety increases,

mood changes are unpredictable, and

personality changes may occur. Finally,

confusion becomes profound. There

may be symptoms of psychosis, such as

hallucinationsand delusions. Signs of

nervous system disease, such as abnor-

mal reflexes and faecal or urinary

incontinence, begin to develop.

Alzheimer’s disease is usually diag-

nosed from the symptoms, but tests

including blood tests and CT scanning

or MRIof the brain may be needed to

exclude treatable causes of dementia.

The most important aspect of treat-

ment for Alzheimer’s disease is the

provision of suitable nursing and social

care for sufferers and support for their

relatives. Tranquillizer drugscan often

improve difficult behaviour and help

with sleep. Treatment with drugs such

as donepezil and rivastigmine may slow

the progress of the disease for a time,

but side effects such as nausea and

dizziness may occur.

amalgam, dentalA material, consist-

ing of an alloy of mercury with other

metals, that is used as fillings for teeth

(see filling,dental).

amantadineAn antiviral drugused in

the prevention and treatment of influ-

enzaA and to help relieve symptoms of

Parkinson’s disease.

amaurosis fugaxBrief loss of vision,

lasting for seconds or minutes, usually

affecting one eye only and caused by

ALVEOLOPLASTY AMAUROSIS FUGAX

A

Pleura

Bronchus

ALVEOLI

LUNGS

ALVEOLUS, PULMONARY

Trachea

Bronchiole

Air space

Blood

vessel

Thin wall

of alveolus