refractory
Meaning of refractory: A condition labeled refractory has not responded as expected to treatment, prompting reconsideration of the diagnosis or a change in approach.
Definition of refractory
Refractory describes a disease, symptom, or condition that fails to improve despite treatment that would ordinarily be expected to work. The term does not specify why the treatment failed, only that the expected response did not occur, so a refractory condition can result from resistance at the cellular level, an inadequate dose, poor absorption, or a disease process that is simply more aggressive than usual.
The word is applied across many specialties. Refractory hypertension continues despite multiple medications given together, refractory epilepsy continues despite anticonvulsant therapy, and refractory anemia continues despite treatment aimed at its underlying cause.
Labeling a condition refractory generally signals a turning point in care, since it prompts reconsideration of the diagnosis, a change in treatment strategy, or referral to a specialist experienced with cases that have not responded to standard approaches.
Used in a sentence
The patient's seizures were classified as refractory after failing to respond to two appropriately dosed anticonvulsants.
Good to know
A condition is called refractory only after treatment that would normally be effective has actually been tried, distinguishing it from a condition that has simply not yet been treated.
Word origin
Where “refractory” comes from
Formed from Latin refractarius, from refringere, meaning to break open or resist, itself from re-, meaning again, and frangere, meaning to break.