See Also: persistent vegetative state(dictionary)
persistent vegetative state(medicine)
Persistent Vegetative State(health)
edrophonium test(medicine)
Herbal medicine (botanical medicine, herbology, phytomedicine)(health)
edrophonium(medicine)
edrophonium chloride(medicine)
Edrophonium chloride(health)
Edrophonium chloride preservative free(health)
vegetative(dictionary)

persistent vegetative state (medicine) and edrophonium test (medicine)


persistent vegetative state (medicine)


persistent vegetative state


A persistent loss of upper cortical function that may follow acute (e.g., infections, toxins, trauma or vascular) events or chronic (e.g., degenerative) events. The patient is bedridden and nutritional support is completely passive, either parenteral or via nasogastric tube. The patient does not require respiratory support or circulatory assistance for survival and is in a state of chronic wakefulness without awareness which may be accompanied by spontaneous eye opening, grunts or screams, brief smiles, sporadic movement of facial muscles and limbs. While the eyes blink upon stimulation, they do not do so in response to visual threats. Some patients chew or clamp their teeth. Urinary and faecal incontinence is universal.


edrophonium test (medicine)


edrophonium test
<investigation> A test used to measure the amount of antibodies to acetylcholine receptors on nerve endings. This is a diagnostic test for myasthenia gravis.

A normal value is no antibodies in the bloodstream. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients may also demonstrate an abnormal edrophonium test result.