Laboratory ABC
Diseases
Anemia
Anemia is a common condition in which the body does not have enough oxygen because the blood is not functioning properly. In Germany, it is precisely diagnosed with the help of laboratory medicine in order to find the cause and start the right treatment. But what...
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a common disease in which the appendix becomes inflamed. This inflammation can affect anyone, but is particularly common in adolescents and young adults. Without timely treatment, appendicitis can cause serious complications such as a rupture of the...
Chromosomes
Chromosomes are like the blueprints of our body - they carry the genetic information that determines how we grow, develop and function. Each person usually has 46 chromosomes, which are divided into 23 pairs. These are found in almost every cell and consist of DNA, a...
Diabetes
Diabetes, often simply referred to as "diabetes", is a chronic disease that affects millions of people in Germany. It occurs when the body is unable to regulate blood sugar properly - either because too little insulin is produced or because the cells no longer respond...
Fatty liver disease
Fatty liver disease is an issue that is affecting more and more people in Germany - often without them realizing it at first. What is a fatty liver? A fatty liver occurs when too much fat is deposited in the liver cells. The liver is a real all-rounder: it cleanses...
Glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is one of the most serious and aggressive forms of brain tumor. In Germany, it is one of the challenges of modern medicine because it grows quickly and is difficult to treat. Laboratory medicine plays an important role in precisely identifying the tumor,...
Iron deficiency
Iron deficiency is a common condition in which the body does not have enough iron to produce hemoglobin, the red blood pigment. Hemoglobin transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. If the deficiency becomes severe, it can lead to anemia, which means that there...
Kissing Disease
Kissing disease is a viral infection that is mainly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It is often transmitted through saliva, for example when kissing, but also by sharing drinks or cutlery. The disease mainly occurs in adolescents and young adults, but can also...
Leukemia
Leukemia, often colloquially referred to as blood cancer, is a group of cancers of the hematopoietic system. It occurs when white blood cells multiply uncontrollably and disrupt normal blood formation. This disease can affect people of any age, but is more common in...
Lipid metabolism
Lipid metabolism encompasses all processes in the body that have to do with the formation, transportation, storage and breakdown of lipids, i.e. fats and cholesterol. Lipids are essential as they provide energy, build cell membranes and serve as hormones or signaling...
Microplastics
Microplastics are on everyone's lips - in the truest sense of the word. These tiny plastic particles, which are smaller than five millimetres, have become a major issue in recent years, including in Germany. They are everywhere: in the water, in the air, in the soil...
One Health
The term "One Health" may sound abstract at first, but it stands for an idea that is becoming increasingly important - also in Germany. It is about considering the health of people, animals and the environment as a whole. What is One Health? "One Health" is best...
PFAS
PFAS - a term that has come up more and more frequently in recent years. This abbreviation stands for perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, a group of chemicals that is causing debate in Germany and around the world. They are extremely persistent, can...
Sepsis
Sepsis is a serious and life-threatening condition that occurs when the body responds to an infection, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites, with an exaggerated reaction. This reaction can lead to inflammation throughout the body, which damages organs and, in...
Sexually transmitted infections (STI)
Sexually transmitted infections, or STIs for short, are diseases that can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, but also through other close contact. In Germany, these include well-known infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea ("clap"), syphilis, HIV and...
Splenic lymphoma
Splenic lymphomas are cancers that affect the spleen, an organ in the upper abdomen that filters the blood and helps fight infection. They are caused by the abnormal growth of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, in the spleen. The most common type is splenic...
Testicular cancer
Testicular cancer is a rare but usually easily treatable cancer that mainly affects young men between the ages of 15 and 40. It develops in the testicles, the male sex glands responsible for the production of sperm and hormones such as testosterone. Thanks to modern...
Vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D is an important vitamin that is essential for bone health and the immune system. It helps to regulate calcium and phosphate in the body, which supports strong bones and teeth. In Germany, vitamin D deficiency is a common problem, especially in at-risk groups...
