Dictionary:

cachexia

  (kə-kĕk'sē-ə)

Also from Answers.com... Herpes What is Herpes? Learn the signs and symptoms.

Weight loss, wasting of muscle, loss of appetite, and general debility that can occur during a chronic disease.

[Late Latin, from Greek kakhexiā : kako-, caco- + hexis, condition (from ekhein, to have).]

The severe wasting syndrome that accompanies such diseases as cancer, infection, or parasitic infestation. The causes of cachexia are only partially understood. However, it is clear that most cachexia is caused by diminished consumption of nutrients rather than by a hypermetabolic state.

Anorexia, the proximal cause of this problem, is thought to be related to the expression of endogenous factors collectively termed cytokines, some of which have now been identified. For example, tumor necrosis factor, a protein (also known as cachectin), when administered to animals for a long period of time, causes a syndrome of cachexia indistinguishable from that produced by chronic disease. It is likely that other cytokines are also involved, and that together these agents cause wasting of such severity that it may lead to death in a wide variety of diseases. See also Anorexia nervosa; Cytokinesis.

The cytokines that cause cachexia are produced mainly by cells of the immune system, especially macrophages. Synthesis is triggered by contact with molecules produced by microbial pathogens or tumor cells. Rational strategies for alleviation of cachexia include eradicating the underlying infection or tumor, blocking cytokine synthesis with agents that specifically interrupt the requisite signaling pathways, or inhibiting cytokine activity with specific antibodies or other antagonists. Oral or intravenous administration of nutrients is likely to be effective if the process has not advanced to a point at which utilization of nutrients is impaired. See also Oncology.

The condition of extreme emaciation and wasting seen in patients with advanced diseases such as cancer and AIDS. Due partly to an inadequate intake of food and mainly the effects of the disease in increasing metabolic rate (hypermetabolism) and the breakdown of tissue protein.

Weakness, loss of weight, atrophy, and emaciation caused by severe or chronic disease.

A profound and marked state of constitutional disorder; general ill health and malnutrition. See also emaciation.

• cardiac c. — severe wasting that occurs in association with chronic cardiac insufficiency. The result of anorexia, malabsorption and poor tissue perfusion with cellular anoxia.
• pituitary c. — that due to diminution or absence of pituitary function. Manifested by progressive loss of body weight associated with muscle atrophy due to lack of protein anabolism in the absence of growth hormone.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)