wart A local growth on the outer layer of the skin that is caused by a papillomavirus. Papillomavirus is transmitted by contact, either with a wart on someone else or a wart on oneself (autoinnoculation). Warts that occur on the hands or feet are called common warts. A wart on the sole of the foot…
warfarin An anticoagulant medication (brand names: Coumarin, Panwarfin, Sofarin) that is taken to treat blood clots or overly thickened blood. Some patients also take warfarin to reduce their risk of clots, stroke, or heart attack. Warfarin works by suppressing production of some clotting factors. Warfarin can have potentially dangerous interactions with many other drugs, including…
Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia A rare, chronic low-grade and slow-growing malignancy of plasma cells. These plasma cells multiply out of control, invade the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen, and characteristically produce huge amounts of the antibody macroglobulin (IgM). The excess IgM causes the blood to thicken. Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia can occur in younger people but is usually…
Waardenburg syndrome A genetic syndrome that features varying degrees of hearing loss and pigmentation changes in the skin and hair. A difference of color between the iris of one eye and the other (heterochromia iridis) is often present. Abbreviated WS. Individuals with WS may also have a white forelock, early graying of the scalp hair…
vulvodynia Chronic pain in the area of the female vulva. The main symptom is pain, usually a burning irritation or rawness of the genitals. The pain may be constant or intermittent, localized or diffuse. It can last for months or longer, and it can vanish as suddenly as it started. The cause of vulvodynia is…
vulvitis Inflammation of the external genital organs of the female, often caused by the yeast Candida albicans. See also yeast vulvitis.
vulvar pain, chronic See vulvodynia.
vulva The female external genital organs, including the labia, clitoris, and entrance to the vagina.
VSD Ventricular septal defect.
Vrolik disease See osteogenesis imperfecta type II.
von Willebrand disease The most common inherited bleeding disorder, in which a clotting protein called von Willebrand factor is deficient or defective. Von Willebrand factor is made by cells lining the wall of blood vessels. Several types of von Willebrand disease have been described. All types affect both males and females. Symptoms can include easy…
von Recklinghausen disease See neurofibromatosis.