cachexia

plural cachexias · plural cachexiae

1. countableuncountablemedicineA systemic wasting of muscle tissue, with or without loss of fat mass, that accompanies a chronic disease.First known use mid 16th c.

   Cancer cachexia is a complex metabolic process, due to both host and tumor factors, which results in excess catabolism as well as aberrant fat and carbohydrate metabolism.

   2007, Toby C. Campbell, Jamie H. Von Roenn, “Anorexia/Weight Loss”, in Ann M. Berger, John L. Shuster, Jr., Jamie H. Von Roenn, editors, Principles and Practice of Palliative Care and Supportive Oncology, 3rd edition, Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, →ISBN, part C (Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Syndromes), page 125

   5 more examples

   An handful of the Leavs or Roots [of garden succory] boyled in Wine or Water, and a draught thereof drunk faſting, […] helpeth the yellow Jaundice, the Heat of the Reins and of the Urin, and the Dropſie also, and thoſe that have an evil Diſpoſition in their Bodies by reaſon of long ſickneſs, evil Diet &c., which the Greeks call Καχεξία, Cachexia.

   1652, Nich[olas] Culpeper, “Succory”, in The English Physitian: Or An Astrologo-physical Discourse of the Vulgar Herbs of This Nation. […], London: […] Peter Cole, […], →OCLC, pages 223–224

   [T]he intimate nature of cachexia is a deterioration in the qualities of blood, a favourite doctrine with the humoral pathologists, in support of which many very powerful arguments might still be adduced.

   1830, George Gregory, Daniel L. M. Peixotto, “Cachexia and Scurvy”, in Elements of the Theory and Practice of Physic, […], 1st New York edition, New York, N.Y.: Published by M. Sherman, →OCLC, page 518

   If we have hitherto no approach to a physiological expression for those autopathic cachexiæ in which gout, scrofula, and cancer respectively originate, let it be observed that our faculty of analogical interpretation remains inert, in respect of these and many other disorders, only for want of a correct and comprehensive hæmatology.

   1848 April 21, “Importance of a Precise Knowledge of the Composition of Blood in the Investigation of Disease”, in The London Medical Gazette, or Journal of Practical Medicine, volume XLI (New Series, volume VI), number 1064, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, […], →OCLC, page 676

   One must take note, as well, of the difference between clinical accounts and clinical-pathological accounts. That is, one must distinguish among: 1) classifications based on clinical findings, such as those advanced by Sydenham and Sauvages, which grouped illnesses under such basic rubrics as fevers, fluxes, cachexias, weaknesses, etc.; […]

   1977, H[ugo] Tristram Englehardt, Jr., “Closing Remarks”, in H. Tristram Englehardt, Jr., Stuart F. Spicker, Bernard Towers, editors, Clinical Judgment: A Critical Appraisal: […] (Philosophy and Medicine; 6), Dordrecht: D. Reidel Publishing Company, →ISBN, page 266

   Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome clinically manifest by progressive involuntary weight loss and diminished food intake and characterized by a variety of biochemical alterations.

   2007, Lawrence E. Harrison, “Nutritional Support for the Cancer Patient”, in Alfred E. Chang, Patricia A. Ganz, Daniel F. Hayes, Timothy Kinsella, Harvey I. Pass, Joan H. Schiller, Richard M. Stone, Victor Strecher, editors, Oncology: An Evidence-based Approach, New York, N.Y.: Springer Science+Business Media, →ISBN, page 1488

   Synonyms: cachexy