Human health and medicine

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, sed rate, Westergren rate): blood test measuring how far red cells settle in one hour; raised by inflammation-driven fibrinogen and rouleaux; used for giant cell arteritis and monitoring.

Erythroderma desquamativum

Erythroderma desquamativum, or Leiner (Leiner-Moussous) disease, is a rare infantile immunodeficiency with generalized seborrheic erythroderma, recurrent infections, malabsorptive diarrhea, and wasting, linked to complement C5 dysfunction and deficient opsonization.

Erythrodermic psoriasis

Erythrodermic psoriasis is a rare, severe variant of psoriasis in which redness and scaling cover 75% or more of the body, causing systemic illness and a dermatologic emergency.

Erythrokeratodermia variabilis

Erythrokeratodermia variabilis (EKV, Mendes da Costa syndrome), now grouped as EKVP, is a rare connexin-gene inherited skin disorder with fixed hyperkeratotic plaques and transient migratory red patches, onset in infancy, autosomal dominant or recessive inheritance.

Erythrokeratodermia-cardiomyopathy syndrome

Erythrokeratodermia-cardiomyopathy (EKC) syndrome, ORPHA:476096, a rare autosomal dominant DSP-gene disorder combining generalized erythrokeratoderma, sparse hair, nail and enamel defects with progressive dilated cardiomyopathy.

Erythromelalgia

Erythromelalgia, also called Mitchell's disease or erythermalgia, is a rare disorder of burning pain, redness, and heat in the extremities, relieved by cooling. Primary forms involve SCN9A/Nav1.7 mutations; secondary forms follow myeloproliferative and autoimmune disease; aspirin helps myeloproliferative cases.

Erythromycin

Erythromycin (Ilotycin) is a macrolide antibiotic from Saccharopolyspora erythraea that inhibits protein synthesis via 50S ribosome binding; used for respiratory, skin, and other bacterial infections, limited by GI effects, QT prolongation, CYP3A4 interactions, and resistance.

Erythropoiesis

Erythropoiesis is the production of red blood cells from hematopoietic stem cells via BFUe, CFUe, erythroblasts, and reticulocytes, regulated by kidney-derived erythropoietin and the HIF pathway, occurring in yolk sac, fetal liver, and bone marrow.

Erythropoietin

Erythropoietin (EPO), also called Hemopoietin, is a hormone produced mainly by the kidney that prompts red blood cell production; its recombinant forms treat anemia of chronic kidney disease.

ESCALATES study

ESCALATES (Evaluating System Change to Advance Learning and Take Evidence to Scale) is the national evaluation of AHRQ's EvidenceNOW Initiative, studying over 1,500 small US primary care practices across seven regional Cooperatives to improve ABCS cardiovascular preventive care.

ESCAPE trial (NCT01778335)

ESCAPE (NCT01778335), a 2015 randomized trial of endovascular thrombectomy for proximal large-vessel ischemic stroke, enrolled 316 patients and showed 53% vs 29.3% functional independence at 90 days.

ESCCNCRTvNCT trial

ESCCNCRTvNCT trial (NCT03001596, CMISG1701): Chinese multicenter randomized phase III trial comparing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy versus chemotherapy followed by minimally invasive esophagectomy in 264 patients with cT3-4aN0-1M0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; similar safety, higher pCR, no significant survival difference.

Eschar

Eschar is a layer of dead (necrotic) tissue that forms over wounds or burns, caused by burns, trauma, infections, or pressure ulcers, and must be distinguished from a scab.

Escitalopram

Escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex) is an SSRI antidepressant, the active S-enantiomer of citalopram, approved in the US in 2002 for major depressive disorder and later for generalized anxiety disorder, with dose-dependent QT prolongation.

ESECC trial

ESECC trial (Endoscopic Screening for Esophageal Cancer in China, NCT01688908): cluster randomized trial in 668 villages of Hua County, Henan, testing Lugol chromoendoscopy screening in ~34,000 adults aged 45-69; 9-year follow-up showed modest, statistically uncertain reductions in esophageal cancer incidence and mortality.

Eslicarbazepine

Eslicarbazepine, also known as S-licarbazepine, is the active metabolite of eslicarbazepine acetate, a once-daily antiseizure medication for focal (partial-onset) seizures marketed as Aptiom in the United States and Zebinix in Europe.

Esmethadone

Esmethadone (REL-1017, d-methadone, dextromethadone) is the opioid-inactive dextro-isomer of methadone, a low-affinity uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist developed by Relmada as an oral rapid antidepressant; phase 3 trials missed their primary endpoint and development was paused.

Oct 20, 2026

Esmirtazapine

Esmirtazapine (Org 50081), the S(+) enantiomer of mirtazapine as its maleic acid salt, is an investigational 5-HT2A/H1 antagonist studied by Merck at 1.5-4.5 mg for primary insomnia, improving sleep time without rebound insomnia.

Esomeprazole

Esomeprazole (Nexium) is the S-enantiomer of omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor launched by AstraZeneca in 2000 that irreversibly blocks the gastric H+/K+-ATPase; used for GERD, erosive esophagitis, H. pylori eradication, and hypersecretory conditions.

Esophageal achalasia

Esophageal achalasia: rare esophageal motility disorder with aperistalsis and failed lower esophageal sphincter relaxation, causing dysphagia and regurgitation; treated by pneumatic dilation, Heller myotomy, POEM, or botox.

Esophageal biopsy

An esophageal biopsy is a tissue sample taken from the esophageal lining, usually with forceps passed through an endoscope, to diagnose eosinophilic esophagitis, infections, Barrett's esophagus, and cancer.

Esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer, malignant disease of the esophagus lining; main subtypes squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. About 604,000 new cases in 2020; tobacco, alcohol, and Barrett esophagus are key risk factors.

Esophageal dilation

Esophageal dilation is an endoscopic procedure that widens a narrowed esophagus with bougies or balloons to relieve dysphagia from benign strictures, achalasia, or eosinophilic esophagitis.

Esophageal impedance pH monitoring

Esophageal impedance pH monitoring is a diagnostic test recording impedance and pH in the esophagus for 24 hours or more to detect and classify reflux episodes.

Esophageal pH monitoring

Esophageal pH monitoring is a diagnostic test that measures esophageal acidity over one to four days, using a nasal catheter or wireless capsule, to quantify gastroesophageal reflux.

Esophageal speech

Esophageal speech is a device-free method of voice restoration after total laryngectomy, in which air injected into the esophagus vibrates the pharyngoesophageal segment to produce voice.

Esophageal varices

Oesophageal varices are dilated submucosal veins of the lower oesophagus caused by portal hypertension, usually cirrhosis; they form above an HVPG of 10 mmHg, affect most cirrhosis patients within 10 years, and are treated with beta-blockers, band ligation, and TIPS.