H1N1 influenza, commonly known as swine flu, is a respiratory infection caused by a type A influenza virus that can spread quickly from person to person and cause symptoms ranging from mild flu-like illness to severe complications.
Check which popular diseases are currently being frequently studied.
See also our rare diseases glossary and drug database.
To open the diseases glossary, select a letter from the list below.
The list below features the most popular diseases currently involved in ongoing clinical trials.
H1N1 influenza, commonly known as swine flu, is a respiratory infection caused by a type A influenza virus that can spread quickly from person to person and cause symptoms ranging from mild flu-like illness to severe complications.
Habitual abortion is a condition where a woman experiences multiple consecutive pregnancy losses, typically defined as three or more spontaneous miscarriages. While this reproductive problem is relatively uncommon, affecting about 1% of couples, it can cause significant emotional distress and frustration for those trying to build a family.
Infections are among the most serious complications for people with blood disorders, particularly those undergoing treatment or stem cell transplantation. Understanding your infection risk and how to protect yourself is crucial for managing your health.
Haematological malignancies are cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and the lymphatic system, representing the fifth most common cancer group in economically developed regions.
Haemodialysis is a life-saving treatment that filters wastes and excess water from your blood when your kidneys are no longer able to do this work.
Haemodynamic instability is a serious condition in which the body’s circulatory system cannot maintain adequate blood flow and pressure to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs.
Haemofiltration is a medical procedure used to clean the blood when the kidneys cannot work properly, particularly in intensive care units where patients need continuous support for acute kidney problems.
Haemoglobinuria is a condition where the oxygen-carrying protein from red blood cells appears in the urine, often turning it a dark reddish or brown color. This happens when red blood cells break down inside blood vessels, releasing their contents into the bloodstream, which the kidneys then filter into the urine.
Haemolytic uraemic syndrome is a serious condition that damages small blood vessels, most commonly affecting the kidneys and often occurring after bacterial infection, particularly in young children.
Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare and life-threatening condition where the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues instead of defending it against disease. Without prompt diagnosis and treatment, this severe inflammatory syndrome can lead to organ failure and death within months, but early intervention and proper care can save lives.
Haemophilia is a rare inherited blood disorder in which blood does not clot properly, causing prolonged bleeding from injuries and sometimes internal bleeding that can damage joints and organs.
Haemophilia A with anti factor VIII represents one of the most challenging complications in treating this inherited bleeding disorder. When the body creates antibodies against the very treatment meant to help, managing bleeding episodes becomes significantly more difficult.
Haemophilia A is a hereditary bleeding disorder where blood does not clot properly due to a lack of clotting factor VIII. With proper treatment and care, people with this condition can lead full and active lives.
When the body’s immune system creates antibodies against the very treatment meant to help, managing haemophilia B becomes significantly more challenging.
Haemophilia B, also known as Christmas disease, is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency in clotting factor IX. While it predominantly affects males due to its X-linked inheritance pattern, effective treatment allows most people with this condition to lead normal, active lives.
Haemoptysis, the coughing up of blood from the lungs or airways, can range from a small amount of blood-streaked mucus to a life-threatening medical emergency requiring immediate attention.
Haemorrhage is a loss of blood from damaged blood vessels that can occur inside or outside your body. While minor bleeding like bruises may resolve on their own, severe haemorrhage is a medical emergency that can lead to organ failure or death if not treated promptly.
Intracranial haemorrhage is a type of stroke that causes bleeding inside the skull or brain tissue, preventing oxygen from reaching your brain. This life-threatening medical emergency requires immediate treatment to prevent permanent brain damage or death.
Preventing excessive bleeding during and after medical procedures or childbirth can save lives and reduce serious complications. Understanding when and how to prevent hemorrhage helps healthcare teams protect patients from life-threatening blood loss.
A haemorrhagic stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds. This less common but more dangerous type of stroke requires immediate treatment, as every second counts in preventing permanent brain damage or death.
Haemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lower part of the rectum and around the anus that can cause pain, itching, and bleeding. This common condition affects about half of all people over age 50, but many cases can be managed at home with simple lifestyle changes and treatments.
Hairy cell leukaemia is a rare type of cancer that grows slowly in the blood and bone marrow, named after the unusual “hairy” appearance of the affected cells when viewed under a microscope.
Hairy cell leukaemia is a rare type of blood cancer that often comes back after treatment, but patients can achieve further periods of remission with repeated therapy.
Hand dermatitis is one of the most common skin conditions, affecting as many as 1 in 10 people and causing red, itchy, and painful skin on the hands that can seriously impact daily life and work.
A hand fracture is a break in one or more of the bones that make up your hand. These injuries can happen during falls, sports activities, car accidents, or when striking a hard object, and they require proper care to heal correctly and restore full hand function.
Head and neck cancer includes several different types of cancers that develop in areas such as the mouth, throat, voice box, nose, and sinuses. Most begin in the thin, flat cells that line these moist surfaces, and many are linked to tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and certain viral infections.
When cancer from the head and neck region spreads to other parts of the body, it becomes a complex disease requiring specialized care and understanding of how it behaves differently than cancer that stays in one place.
Stage III head and neck cancer represents a significant turning point in the disease, where the tumor has grown larger or begun to involve nearby lymph nodes, requiring more complex treatment approaches that often combine multiple therapies.
Stage IV head and neck cancer represents the most advanced form of this disease, where cancer has grown extensively, spread to lymph nodes, or reached distant parts of the body. Understanding this stage and available treatment options is an important step in managing your care.
A head injury can range from a minor bump to a life-threatening condition affecting your brain. Most head injuries are mild and temporary, but some can cause serious complications like bleeding inside the skull or permanent brain damage.
Congenital heart disease affects the structure of the heart from birth, making it the most common type of birth defect. While some heart problems are mild and require little treatment, others are life-threatening and demand immediate medical attention. Thanks to advances in diagnosis and treatment, most children born with these conditions now survive into adulthood.
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is a complex condition affecting millions of people worldwide, where the heart’s pumping ability appears normal but the muscle becomes stiff and cannot relax properly to fill with blood, leading to symptoms that significantly impact daily life.
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is a condition where the heart’s main pumping chamber cannot push blood forward as effectively as it should, causing blood to back up into the lungs and body, leading to shortness of breath and swelling.
A heart transplant is a major surgical procedure that replaces a failing heart with a healthy donor heart, offering hope to people whose hearts can no longer pump blood effectively despite other treatments.
Henoch-Schonlein purpura is a condition that causes inflammation of small blood vessels, leading to a distinctive rash and other symptoms. While it most commonly affects children between ages 2 and 10, it can occur at any age and usually resolves on its own within a few weeks.
Heparin resistance is a challenging condition that occurs when unusually large doses of heparin are needed to achieve the desired level of blood thinning. This problem has gained increased attention in intensive care units, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many critically ill patients required anticoagulation but failed to respond to standard heparin doses.
Hepatic adenoma is a rare, non-cancerous liver tumor that primarily affects women, especially those who use birth control pills. Although benign, these tumors carry risks of internal bleeding and, in rare cases, can transform into cancer.
Hepatic angiosarcoma is a rare but highly aggressive cancer that develops in the blood vessels of the liver. Though it accounts for less than 2% of all liver cancers, it is the third most common primary liver cancer and the most common malignant tumor arising from the liver’s blood vessels in adults.
Hepatic cancer, also known as liver cancer, is a serious disease where cancer cells grow in the liver—one of the body’s largest and most vital organs. Most cases occur in people who already have long-term liver damage or disease.
Hepatic cirrhosis is a serious condition where the liver becomes permanently scarred and damaged over many years. While it cannot be cured or reversed, understanding the condition and getting proper treatment can help slow its progression and manage complications, allowing many people to live well for years.
Hepatic encephalopathy is a serious brain disorder that occurs when a damaged liver can no longer remove toxins from the blood, causing confusion, personality changes, and impaired thinking that can progress to coma or death without treatment.
Hepatic fibrosis is a condition where excessive scar tissue builds up in the liver, replacing healthy tissue that normally helps your body function. While early stages can sometimes be reversed, understanding this condition and its causes is crucial for protecting your liver health.
Hepatic neoplasms are tumors that develop in the liver, one of the body’s largest and most vital organs. Understanding these growths, their causes, and available treatments can help patients and their families navigate this serious condition with greater confidence.
Alcoholic hepatitis is a serious liver condition caused by heavy alcohol use that leads to inflammation and damage of liver cells. While mild cases may improve with proper care, severe cases can be life-threatening, with high mortality rates even with treatment.
Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by a virus that can spread through contact with infected blood or body fluids. While some people recover quickly, others develop a lifelong infection that can lead to serious liver damage if not properly monitored and managed.
Hepatitis D is a serious liver infection that can only affect people who already have hepatitis B. It is considered the most severe form of viral hepatitis and can lead to rapid liver damage, but it can be prevented by getting vaccinated against hepatitis B.
Hepato-lenticular degeneration, also known as Wilson disease, is a rare inherited disorder where the body cannot properly eliminate copper, leading to its dangerous accumulation in the liver, brain, and other organs. While this condition can be life-threatening if untreated, early diagnosis and lifelong management can allow most people to live normal, healthy lives.
Hepatobiliary cancers are serious conditions that affect the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts—organs responsible for producing, storing, and transporting bile, a fluid essential for digestion.
Hepatobiliary disease includes a range of disorders affecting the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts—organs that work together to help digest food, remove waste, and keep your body healthy. These conditions can vary from minor problems to serious diseases that may require lifelong care.
Hepatoblastoma is a very rare type of liver cancer that primarily affects babies and young children, most commonly before their third birthday. While the diagnosis can be frightening for families, advances in treatment combining chemotherapy and surgery have dramatically improved outcomes, with many children achieving complete recovery.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer, affecting thousands of people each year. While it is a serious condition that often develops in people with long-term liver damage, early detection and advances in treatment offer important opportunities for improving outcomes.
Hepatorenal syndrome is a life-threatening condition where the kidneys suddenly fail in people with severe liver disease. Despite normal kidney structure, the organs stop working because narrowed blood vessels prevent adequate blood flow, creating a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
Hepatotoxicity is liver damage caused by exposure to harmful substances such as medications, chemicals, herbal products, or alcohol. This condition can range from mild symptoms detected only through blood tests to severe, life-threatening liver failure requiring urgent medical attention.
HER2 mutant non-small cell lung cancer is a rare form of lung cancer caused by specific genetic changes in the HER2 protein. Though it affects only a small percentage of lung cancer patients, recent advances in targeted treatments are offering new hope for those diagnosed with this condition.
HER2-negative breast cancer is the most common type of breast cancer, affecting about 4 out of 5 people diagnosed with the disease. Understanding your HER2 status helps your healthcare team choose the right treatment plan for you.
Recent advances in targeted therapies have opened new doors for patients with HER2 positive biliary tract cancer, a rare and difficult-to-treat disease that has long been known for its poor prognosis.
HER2-positive breast cancer was once considered one of the most aggressive forms of the disease, but thanks to major advances in targeted treatments, it has become one of the most successfully treated types of breast cancer.
HER2 positive gastric cancer is a distinct type of stomach cancer that produces high levels of a protein called HER2, making it grow faster than other types. This discovery has led to new targeted treatments that can help patients live longer.
HER2 protein overexpression occurs when cells make too much of a specific protein that controls cell growth, leading to faster cancer development in several types of tumors, particularly breast and stomach cancers.
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare genetic condition that causes sudden, severe swelling in different parts of the body. Though unpredictable and potentially life-threatening, advances in treatment now offer hope for people living with this challenging disorder.