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Lou Gehrig’s disease -

Interestingly, French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot also discovered Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), or motor-neuron disease. This degenerative neurological disorder was named after a famous sufferer, professional baseball first baseman Lou Gehrig.

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Graves' disease -

This condition, characterized by an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), was discovered by Irish doctor Robert J. Graves. One of the symptoms include bulging eyes, like actor Marty Feldman had. Other famous sufferers include George H.W. and Barbara Bush.

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Tourette syndrome -

Also known as TS or Tourette's, this syndrome, characterized by multiple tics, was named after the French neurologist who first described it, Georges Gilles de la Tourett.

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Alzheimer's disease -

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and indeed affects millions around the world. It was named after the German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer, who first identified the disease in 1906.

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Parkinson's disease -

In 1817, English surgeon James Parkinson wrote 'An Essay on the Shaking Palsy,' and about 60 years later French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot named the brain disorder that causes uncontrollable movements after James Parkinson.

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Paget's disease -

English surgeon James Paget is the man that gave name to Paget's disease of bone. It's a condition that sees the normal renewal of bone affected, leading to weaknesses and deformities.

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Hashimoto's disease -

Lymphocytic thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder  that attacks the thyroid (hypothyroidism), was discovered by Japanese doctor Hakaru Hashimoto. The disease was then named after him.

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HeLa cells -

In 1951, an African-American woman named Henrietta Lacks developed cervical adenocarcinoma. Her tumor was removed before her death, biopsied, and the cells successfully grown in culture. This contributed to developments in medicine, including the Polio vaccine and HIV drugs. Her cells continue to reproduce to this day, making them the first immortalized human cell line. There is, however, controversy surrounding the case, as all this was done without Henrietta Lacks' knowledge or consent.

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Carrión's disease -

This bacterial infection transmitted by sand flies was named after Peruvian medical student Daniel Carrión. In order to study it, Carrión actually injected himself with infectious matter from a sick person. He developed Oroya fever and eventually died. The disease was named after him.

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Satchmo syndrome -

This syndrome was named after the famous jazz musician Louis Armstrong, who was also known as "Satchmo." The condition was named after Armstrong ruptured his orbicularis ori muscle, which can happen in trumpet and other wind instrument players.

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Raynaud's syndrome -

This vasospastic disorder was named after French doctor Maurice Raynaud. Sufferers usually experience constriction of blood vessels in extremities (i.e. fingers and toes) due to cold, anxiety, or stress.

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Van Gogh syndrome -

This syndrome is used to describe self-mutilation, associated with mental illness. It's named after the famous painter, who cut off his ear. But the term is not universally accepted, nor used by the medical community at large.

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Munchausen syndrome -

This psychological disorder, where a person pretends to be ill, was named after a fictional character called Baron Karl Friedrich von Münchhausen (inspired by a real person). The term was coined by English physician Richard Asher.

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Fregoli syndrome -

Fregoli syndrome was named after Italian performer Leopoldo Fregoli. This is rare psychological disorder where sufferers believe that different people are actually one single person who changes their appearance.

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Tommy John surgery -

The surgery to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) was named after Major League pitcher Tommy John.

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Troussou’s sign -

French internist Armand Trousseau was the first to identify thrombophlebitis (vessel inflammation due to blood clot) in cancer patients.

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Thomsen’s disease -

A hereditary myotonia (a neuromuscular condition where the muscles are unable to relax) was discovered by German physician Julius Thomsen in 1875. The condition was discovered in Thomsen himself and his family members.

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Rickettsiosis -

Doctor Howard Taylor Ricketts discovered a group of diseases caused by a species of Rickettsia (bacteria). Rickettsiosis can be transmitted by ticks, fleas, lice, and mites.

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de Musset’s sign -

Named after French dramatist Alfred de Musset, this sign is "a visible nodding of the head in time with arterial pulsation in patients with aortic insufficiency."

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Jones fracture -

This fracture was named after Welsh surgeon Robert Jones. It is essentially a fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone of the foot (on the pinky toe side).

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Diogenes syndrome -

This behavioral disorder of the elderly is characterized by self-neglect, social isolation, and hoarding, among other symptoms. It was named after Greek philosopher and Cynic, Diogenes of Sinope.

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West syndrome -

In 1841, physician William James West witnessed these "peculiar infant convulsions" in his own child. West described them as "attacks of emprosthotonos" and "bobbings."

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Christmas disease -

Hemophilia B was initially called "Christmas disease," after a boy named Stephen Christmas was identify as a patient in 1952. Sadly, Christmas contracted HIV following numerous transfusions and died of AIDS in 1993.

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Hageman’s disease -

In 1953, American hematologist Oscar Ratnoff discovered a new clotting factor: Factor XII. The patient in which Factor XII was identified was a railway worker named John Hageman.

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McLeod syndrome -

Hugh McLeod was the name of the patient in which this rare genetic disorder was first identified. The syndrome is caused by mutations in the XK gene on the X chromosome.

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Hartnup disease -

Hartnup disease is named after the first identified patient, a 12-year-old English boy named Eddie Hartnup. This condition is characterized by the body's inability to absorb certain amino acids  from the diet.

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Wegener's granulomatosis -

This rare multisystem autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the blood vessels was named after German pathologist Friedrich Wegener. The name has, however, been changed to granulomatosis with polyangiitis, due to Wegener's past as a member of the Nazi Party.

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Cowden’s syndrome -

This rare inherited disorder, which leads to benign (noncancerous) growths called hamartomas, was named after the family name of the first identified patient.

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Machado-Joseph disease -

This condition was named after the fathers of the two families where the rare neurological eponym was first identified.

Sources: (ICU One Pager) (Medical Bag) (HowStuffWorks) (Heart) (General Psychiatry) 

See also: Disease X: The next pandemic?

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