Idiopathic

IDIOPATHIC (from the Greek idios—own, special and pathos—suffering), independent (synonym: essential). A disease is called idiopathic when it arises independently, i.e., regardless of other lesions (otherwise—protopathicus, primarius, as opposed to the concept of secondary—secundarius, deuteropathic). For example, one speaks of idiopathic epilepsy in cases where the corresponding clinical picture is not based on any gross anatomical changes in the brain, nor is there any reason to link the disease with irritations from peripheral nerves (trauma, inflammation of nerves, scars along the nerve tract, neuromas, etc.), in contrast to symptomatic epilepsy, which develops as a result of various injuries and disorders of the nervous system and most often diseases of the brain (cranial trauma, hydrocephalus, various types of inflammation of the meninges and the brain itself, etc.). Idiopathic athetosis refers to athetosis that develops without visible causes, without any directly preceding etiological factors such as encephalitis, cranial trauma, hemorrhages, neoplasms in the brain, etc. Idiopathic peritonitis refers to those cases of inflammation of the peritoneum when the latter arises as an independent disease, rather than as a complication of diseases of the abdominal organs or a specific manifestation of sepsis. Idiopathic anemia—see Anemia, malignant. By idiopathic hypertrophy of the heart is meant that type of hypertrophy which develops independently of any structural changes in the endocardium or myocardium, the vessels of the systemic and pulmonary circulation, as well as the parenchymal organs. The most important cause of such hypertrophy should apparently be considered deviations in blood circulation both in the vascular system in general and in the region of the heart itself depending on nerve impulses leading to an increase in arterial and intracardiac blood pressure, as occurs, for example, in essential hypertension. The latter apparently lies at the basis of the majority of cases of idiopathic hypertrophy of the heart. Some authors (Bollinger, Krehl) emphasize the role of other factors, such as general obesity of the body and partly plethora and the abuse of food and drink. From what has been said, the conditional and empirical nature of the term "idiopathic" is clear.

G. Sakharov.