Dictionary

FAO deficiency See Sjogren’s syndrome.

Fanconi anemia A rare, inherited disease that adversely affects all the elements of bone marrow and is associated with malformations of the heart, kidney, and limbs, as well as pigmentary changes of the skin. Fanconi anemia predisposes a person to cancer, particularly to a disturbance of bone marrow growth called myelodysplasia and to acute myeloid…

family tree See pedigree.

family planning See birth control.

familial polyposis See familial adenomatous polyposis.

familial neurovisceral lipidosis See GM1gangliosidosis.

familial mental retardation 1 See FMR1.

familial Mediterranean fever A rare genetic disorder that is characterized by recurrent attacks of inflammation, with fever and pain in the abdomen, chest, and/or joints. Abbreviated FMF. FMF attacks typically last for 12 to 72 hours. The symptoms may differ from patient to patient, even in the same family. In some cases, protein deposits, called…

familial hypercholesterolemia The most common inherited type of hyperlipidemia (high lipid levels in the blood). Familial hypercholesterolemia is recognizable in childhood and is due to genetic defects in the receptor (target) for low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The most common autosomal dominant form of hypercholesterolemia is caused by mutation in the LDL receptor gene (LDLR) on chromosome…

familial cancer Cancer or a predisposition (tendency) to it that runs in families.

familial breast cancer See breast cancer, familial.

familial adenomatous polyposis A genetic disease characterized by the presence of numerous precancerous polyps in the colon and rectum. The polyps usually begin to form at puberty, and colon cancer almost always develops later in life. Abbreviated FAP. FAP is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Most people who receive the gene manifest the disease,…