Medical Eponyms Letter K

173. Kallman’s syndrome is anosmia; hypogonadotropic hypogonadism stemming from failure of LHRH-expressing neurons to migrate - etc.
174. Kaposi’s sarcoma is low-grade vascular tumor associated with HHV-8 - four forms - classic (older men of Mediterranean or Jewish extraction) - African - organ transplant-associated - and AIDS; differential for skin lesions includes bacillary angiomatosis from Bartonella.
175. Kartagener’s syndrome is a triad of sinusitis - bronchiectasis - and situs inversus; also associated with ciliary dysfunction; Manes Kartagener - Swiss physician - 1897-1975.
176. Kegel exercises are exercises for strengthening pelvic muscles in order to increase urethral closure mechanism in urinary incontinence.
177. Kelly- Seegmiller Syndrome is a partial deficiency of the enzyme HGPRTase involved in salvage pathway in synthesis of nucleotides, resulting in hyperuricemia and gout.(See also Lesch Nyhan Syndrome)
178. Kennedy syndrome is X-linked spinobulbar muscular atrophy; from CAG repeat expansion encoding androgen receptor; leads to distal limb amyotrophy - bulbar signs - fasiculations prominent - androgen insensitivity with gynecomastia - testicular atrophy - and oligospermia.
179. Kent - bundle of is AV bypass accessory tract in Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome that directly connects atrial and ventricular myocardium.
180. Kernig sign is first flex patient’s leg at both hip and knee - and then straighten knee; positive sign is pain and increased resistance to extending knee - suggesting meningeal irritation.
181. Kernohan notch is focal impression against the cerebral peduncle - pressure against notch in uncal herniation.
182. Keutel syndrome is malformation syndrome characterized by multiple pulmonary stenoses - neural hearing loss - short terminal phalanges - and calcifications and/or ossification of the cartilage in ears - nose larynx - trachea - and ribs; due to mutation in gene encoding human matrix Gla protein.
183. Kew Gardens spotted fever is Rickettsialpox due to Rickettsia akari - from Kew Gardens - New York.
184. Kienböck disease is osteonecrosis of the carpal lunate that most commonly affects men between ages 20-40; sometimes history of trauma; may lead to end-stage arthritis of wrist with progression.
185. Kikuchi’s disease is histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis - characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy with tenderness - fever - and night sweats; tends to occur in young women; histology can be confused with lymphoma.
186. Kleihauer-Betke test is testing for the presence of fetal blood cells in maternal circulation .
187. Klein-Waardenburg syndrome is Waardenburg syndrome type III.
188. Klinger disease is Wegener’s disease; first described by Heinz Klinger in 1931 as a medical student and then described by Friederic Wegener in 1936.
189. Kocher’s maneuver is dissection of the duodenum from the right-sided peritoneal attachment to allow mobilization and visualization of the back of the duodenum/pancreas.(2nd part).
190. Kocher’s test is compression of lateral lobes of thyroid causing stridor; associated with thyroid carcinoma - goiter - or thyroiditis.
191. Krabbe’s disease is AR sphingolipidosis (sulfatidose) - from beta-galactosidase deficiency - resulting in increased galactocerebrosides - mental retardation - blindness - deafness - paralysis - convulsions - total absence of myelin - globoid bodies in white matter of brain - fatal in early life.
192. Kulchitsky’s cells is neuroendocrine argentaffin cells present along the bronchial epithelium - particularly in the fetus and neonate; small cell carcinoma has granules similar to Kulchitsky’s cells; origin of carcinoid tumors.
193. Kupffer cells is phagocytic cells of the mononuclear phagocyte series found on the luminal surface of endothelial cells in hepatic sinusoids; they metabolize old RBCs - digest hemoglobin.
194. Kussmaul’s sign is jugular vein distension during inspiration (reversal of normal pattern of decreasing jugular venous pressure during inspiration); classically seen in constrictive pericarditis because of normal increase in venous return with increased abdominal pressure from diaphragmatic contraction leading to increase in right atrial pressure from non-complaint right ventricle - though most common contemporary cause is severe right-sided heart failure (JAMA 1996: 275:632); generally negative in cardiac tamponade.
195. Kussmaul-Maier disease is old name for polyarteritis nodosa.
196. Kveim antigen is saline suspension of human sarcoid tissue prepared from spleen of an individual with active sarcoidosis; used in Kveim-Sitzbach test.