Medical Eponyms
History of Medicine
Rheumatology
Hematology
Infectious Diseases
100

This neurologic condition features the triad of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and confusion, often associated with thiamine deficiency

Wernicke’s encephalopathy

100

She is considered the founder of modern nursing and revolutionized hygiene during the Crimean War.

Florence Nightingale

100

This condition features granulomatous inflammation of the respiratory tract, necrotizing vasculitis, and is associated with c-ANCA

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis

100

This microangiopathy presents with thrombocytopenia, MAHA, renal dysfunction, and neurologic symptoms, and is associated with ADAMTS13 deficiency

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)

100

A prion disease characterized by rapidly progressive dementia and myoclonus

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

200

This eponymous sign refers to periumbilical ecchymosis, often seen in hemorrhagic pancreatitis

Cullen's sign

200

This historical figure is credited for discovering penicillin.

Alexander Fleming

200

Anti-Mi-2 antibodies are most closely associated with this inflammatory myopathy

Dermatomyositis

200

The JAK2 V617F mutation is present in over 95% of cases of this myeloproliferative neoplasm

Polycythemia vera

200

This tropical disease is caused by a bite from the tsetse fly

African sleeping sickness (Trypanosomiasis)

300

This syndrome combines hepatic vein thrombosis with hepatomegaly, ascites, and abdominal pain.

Budd-Chiari syndrome

300

John Snow famously identified a water tank as the source of outbreak of this bacteria in 1854

Cholera

300

The triad of arthritis, urethritis, and conjunctivitis often follows a gastrointestinal or genitourinary infection.

Reactive arthritis

300

This rare bone marrow failure syndrome presents in childhood with café-au-lait spots and thumb abnormalities.

Fanconi anemia

300

This obligate intracellular parasite causes chronic disease with fetal complications and is linked to undercooked meat.

Toxoplasmosis

400

This eponym refers to progressive supranuclear palsy with vertical gaze palsy and axial rigidity.

Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome

400

The discovery of the blood groups ABO system in 1901 was made by this Austrian immunologist.

Karl Landsteiner

400

This condition presents with recurrent oral/genital ulcers and uveitis, often along the Silk Road.

Behçet’s disease

400

Warm hemolytic anemia can show this finding on a blood film.

Spherocytes

400

This hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome is transmitted by rodent droppings and was recently credited as the cause of death of a celebrity's wife

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HFRS)

500

This eponymous lesion of tuberculosis in the spine can cause vertebral collapse and gibbus deformity

Pott’s disease

500

This cylindrical device, used during mid-20th century polio outbreaks, helped patients breathe by creating negative pressure around the body.

Iron lung

500

This rare autosomal recessive autoinflammatory syndrome is caused by mutations in the MEFV gene and is associated with AA amyloidosis as a long-term complication

Familial Mediterranean fever

500

This disease, marked by defective CD55 and CD59 expression, causes intravascular hemolysis and can lead to aplastic anemia or thrombosis

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)

500

This systemic fungal infection mimics tuberculosis and is endemic to parts of Latin America

Paracoccidioidomycosis