You will find here some definitions of toxicity-related conditions.
A
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Absorption
The process of transporting the drug from the site of administration to its target in the systemic circulation
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Acne vulgaris
A common skin condition of adolescence and early adulthood characterised by non-inflammatory Follicular Papules or comedones (blackheads) and by inflammatory Papules, Pustules and nodules in its more severe forms.
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Acneiform rash
A skin condition characterised by Follicular, papulopustular eruptions confined to the seborrhoeic areas, frequently localised to the face, scalp, upper chest and back. Also referred to as papulopustular rash or folliculitis.
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Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
An acute form of leukaemia characterised by overproduction of lymphoblasts.
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ADME process
Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion - the four processes that describe a drug's passage through the body.
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Allodynia
Pain caused by a stimulus which normally does not provoke pain.
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Alopecia
Hair loss or baldness.
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Antacid
A substance taken to neutralise stomach acidity.
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Antiarrhythmics
A collective term for drugs used to regulate abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
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Aphthous stomatitis
An illness that causes small ulcers to appear in the mouth, usually inside the lips, on the cheeks, or on the tongue (also known as canker sores or aphthous ulcers).
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Apparent clearance
Equal to the drug dose divided by the area-under-the-curve. Used in pharmacokinetic trials where bioavailability is unknown.
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Apparent volume of distribution
The theoretical volume that the total amount of administered drug would have to occupy, to provide the same concentration as it currently is in blood plasma
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Asteatotic eczema
A skin condition (also known as eczema cracquelée), which is characterised by pruritic, dry, cracked and polygonally fissured skin with irregular scaling. Often initially appears on the shins and has a ‘crazy paving’ appearance. Other areas that can be affected are the upper arms, thighs and lower back. Asteatotic eczema can cause soreness and itching and is mostly seen in people over the age of 60.
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Autophosphorylation
Phosphorylation of a kinase that the kinase mediates by itself.
B
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Balanitis
Inflammation of the skin covering the head (glans) of the penis.
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Basal (and suprabasal)
The basal layer is the innermost layer of the epidermis made up of a single layer of basal or germinative cells (mostly epidermal Keratinocytes) that proliferate and divide to give rise to new cells for other epidermal layers. As the cells move to the upper layers of the epidermis they mature and eventually form cornified cells. The suprabasal cell layer lies directly above the basal layer and is composed of five to ten layers of cells.
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Bioavailability
A measure of the amount of drug that is actually absorbed from a given dose. (The proportion of administered drug that reaches the systemic circulation and is therefore available for distribution to the intended target)
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Blepharitis
Inflammation of the eyelids.
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Bradycardia
Abnormally slow heart rate.
C
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Causalgia
Continuous burning pain, allodynia and hyperpathia in succession or a traumatic nervous lesion; disturbed vasomotor functions are often intercurrent, as well as, later on, disturbances to trophism.
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Central pain
Pain associated with a lesion of the central nervous system.
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Chronic myeloid leukaemia
A form of leukaemia characterised by accumulation of myeloid cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood.
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Crusts
When serum, blood or pus dries on the skin surface, hardened deposits known as Crusts are formed.
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Cysteine-adenosine repeat polymorphisms
Population-based variations in simple sequence repeats of the dinucleotides cysteine and adenosine, which modulate EGFR gene activity.
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Cytotoxic drugs
Drugs used to kill tumour cells directly. Cytotoxic drugs do not differentiate between normal and malignant cells.
D
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Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
A form of cancer that produces tumours in lower layers of the skin.
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Distribution
The movement of a drug to and from the blood and various parts of the body.
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Drug transporters
Membrane-associated transport proteins that are known to have a role in transporting drugs.
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Dysaesthesia
Unpleasant sensation of tingling, stabbing, or burning whether spontaneous or provoked.
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Dysphagia
Difficulty in swallowing.
E
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Eccrine epithelium
The Epithelium lining a sweat gland.
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Ectatic
Dilated.
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EGFR inhibitors
A targeted drug therapy that inhibits the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Also known as EGFRI.
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Elimination
Removal of a drug from the body.
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Enzyme
A protein molecule that accelerates chemical reactions of other substances without itself being destroyed or altered upon completion of the reaction.
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Eosinophilic leukaemia
A form of leukaemia characterised by overproduction of white blood cells.
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Epilation
Removal of hair using an epilator, an electrical device used to remove hair by mechanically grasping multiple hairs simultaneously.
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Epithelium
Outside layer of cells covering all the free, open surfaces of the body including the skin and Mucous membranes.
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Erythema
Redness of the skin caused by dilatation and congestion of the capillaries, often a sign of inflammation or infection.
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Excoriations
Abrasions of the skin, usually caused by scratching and often covered by a crust or scab.
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Exposure
A measurement for the amount of drug seen by the body.
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Extravascular space
The space that surrounds the cells of a given tissue, which is filled with interstitial fluid which bathes and surrounds cells.
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Exudation
The process of discharging moisture or other liquids, through pores or incisions in the skin.
F
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First-pass effects
An effect where orally-administered drugs are substantially reduced in bioavailability on the "first pass" of the liver and gut wall.
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Fissures
Cracks in the skin caused by Xerosis in areas where the epidermis is thick (eg tops of fingers or toes, knuckles and nail folds).
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Follicle
A small cavity in the epidermis of the skin from which a hair develops.
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Follicular
Affecting or growing out of a Follicle or Follicles.
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Folliculitis
Inflammation of the hair Follicles, which is often caused by Staphylococcal infections.
G
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Genetic polymorphisms
Natural variation in the genetic code between different individuals.
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Geometric mean
The nth root of the product of a group of numbers numbering n, contrasted with the more well-known arithmetic mean.
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Glucuronidated metabolites
Drugs that have has glucuronic acid added to them.
H
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H2 antagonists
A type of drug that blocks histamine receptors on parietal cells to decrease acid production in the stomach.
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Half-life
The period of time in which the amount of a drug in the body is reduced by one half.
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Hand-foot skin reaction
A dose-dependent skin reaction characterised by sharply demarcated, erythematous, oedematous, painful and very tender blisters that evolve into inflamed and painful skin adjacent to the calluses. The lesions typically localize to areas of pressure or friction on the skin, such as on the heels, metatarsal heads, and areas of friction caused by shoes or manual labour.
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Hand-foot syndrome
Also know as Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysethesia (PPE), as a skin toxicity associated with oedema, and dysesthesia with pain, scaling, and vesiculation, often associated with chemotherapy.
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HERG K+ channels
A potassium channel protein essential for cardiac electrical function. Mutations in the gene cause long QT syndrome.
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Homodimer
A structure formed when two molecules of the same type of protein (eg Receptor proteins) combine.
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Hyperaesthesia
Increase in sensitivity to specific stimuli.
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Hyperalgesia
Increased response to a stimulus which is normally painful.
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Hypereosinophilic syndrome
A disease that causes organ damage due to high numbers of blood leukocytes.
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Hyperkeratotic skin
Hyperkeratosis is a thickening of the stratum corneum of the skin.
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Hyperpathia
Painful syndrome characterised by increased reaction to a stimulus, especially a repetitive stimulus.
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Hypertrichosis
Excessive hair growth.
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Hypokalaemia
Low levels of potassium in the blood.
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Hypomagnesemia
Low levels of magnesium in the blood.
I
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Influx transport
Inward cell membrane transport of drugs, mediated by drug transporters.
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Instrumental ADL
Instrumental ADL (activities of daily living); refers to preparing meals, shopping for groceries or clothes, using the telephone, managing money, etc.
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Intestinal efflux
Transport of drugs through the intestinal lining.
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Intravascular space
The space contained within blood vessels. The main intravascular fluid is blood.
K
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Keratinocytes
Specialised epidermal cells that synthesises keratin.
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Keratoacanthoma
A low-grade skin cancer tumour.
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Kinase enzyme
A kinase enzyme modifies other proteins by chemically adding phosphate groups to them by phosphorylation.
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Kinase inhibitors
A type of inhibitor that blocks the action of one, or more than one, protein kinase
L
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Lichenification
Epidermal thickening characterised by visible and palpable thickening of the skin and accentuated skin markings. Usually occurs as a result of constant scratching and/or rubbing.
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Ligand
A small molecule that binds to a larger molecule called a receptor.
M
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Macule
A flat, distinct, coloured area of skin that is less than 1 centimetre in diameter and does not include a change in skin texture or thickness.
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Maculopapular rash
A skin condition characterised by a flat, red area on the skin that is covered with small confluent bumps (papules), and also includes erythema.
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Maintenance treatment
Treatment to prevent relapse in cancer patients.
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Metabolism
Chemical transformation of ingested molecules including drugs.
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Mucous membranes
Linings of body cavities and various internal organs that are exposed to the external environment. Mucous membranes are covered in Epithelium and are involved in the processes of absorption and secretion.
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Multikinase inhibitor
A type of enzyme inhibitor that blocks the action of more than one protein kinase.
N
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Nail infection
For grading purpose and use of common language in the CTCAE v4.03 Paronychia is addressed as Nail Infection, a disorder characterised by an infectious process involving the nail.
P
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Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome
A condition marked by pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, or redness of the hands or feet. See also Hand-foot syndrome.
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Papilloma
A benign outwardly-projecting epithelial tumour.
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Papules
Circumscribed palpable elevations of the skin less than 0.5 cm in diameter.
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Papulopustular rash
A skin condition characterised by follicular, papulopustular eruptions confined to the seborrhoeic areas, frequently localised to the face, scalp, upper chest and back. Also referred to as acneiform rash or folliculitis.
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Paraesthesia
Abnormal sensation, either spontaneous or evoked.
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Paronychia
Inflammation of the nail fold.
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Paronychium
The soft tissue surrounding the border of the fingernail or toenail.
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Peak-to-trough ratio
An important consideration for drugs that treat hypertension. The ratio of blood pressure lowering by the drug, at the maximum and minimum blood pressures in a 24-hour period.
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PH
The negative log of the measure of hydrogen ions in a solution.
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Philadelphia chromosome
A novel mutant chromosome that usually appears associated with chronic myelogenous leukaemia.
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Pilosebaceous unit
Unit containing the hair shaft, hair follicle, Sebaceous gland and the erector pili muscle.
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Podiatric
Pertaining to the branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the human foot.
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Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
A type of ventricular tachycardia where the tachycardiac complexes have varying shapes.
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Protease inhibitors
A type of drug that inhibits viral proteases, used to treat certain viral infections like HIV.
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Protein pump inhibitors
A type of drug that reduced gastric acid production, used to treat a number of gastrointestinal conditions.
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Pruritus
Itch.
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Pustules
A small amount of visible pus in the top layer of skin (epidermis) or just beneath it in the dermis.
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Pyogenic granuloma
A common, benign growth that often appears as a rapidly growing, bleeding bump on the skin or inside the mouth. It is composed of blood vessels and may occur at the site of minor injury.
Q
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QT prolongation
A measure of delayed ventricular repolarisation.
R
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Receptor
A large-molecular-weight protein that contains a region where small molecules or ligands can bind.
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Rosacea
A skin disease characterised by redness (Erythema) of the face, flushing of the skin and the presence of hard pimples (Papules) or pus-filled pimples (Pustules), and small visible spider-like veins called Telangiectasias. In later stages of the disease, the face may swell and the nose may take on a bulb-like appearance called rhinophyma.
S
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Sebaceous epithelium
The Epithelium lining a Sebaceous gland.
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Sebaceous gland
A cutaneous gland that empties an oily secretion (sebum) into the hair Follicle to lubricate the hair and skin.
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Self care ADL
Self care ADL (activities of daily living); refers to bathing, dressing and undressing, feeding self, using the toilet, taking medications, and not confined to bed.
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Squamous cell carcinoma
A cancer type that develops from epidermal keratinocytes.
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Stomatitis
A general term for any mucosal injury in the oral cavity.
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Systemic circulation
The part of the cardiovascular system responsible for transporting blood around the body (as opposed to pulmonary circulation to the lungs).
T
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Telangiectasia
Dilated superficial blood vessel in the skin.
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Therapeutic window
The range of doses of a drug that can be used to treat a disease.
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Torsades de pointes
A form of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia that is characterised by a prolonged QT interval.
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Trichomegaly
Excessive hair growth resulting in long, curly and rigid eyelashes.
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Tyrosine kinase
An Enzyme that transfers a phosphate from ATP, activating the EGFR. Kinase activity is an important component of intracellular signalling.
X
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Xerophthalmia
Abnormal dryness of the eye and thickening of the conjunctiva.
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Xerosis
Dryness.
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Xerosis cutis
Dry skin.