Clinical Cases 2

Question 1

What do we call the auto immune disorder where the immune system attacks myelin sheath around axons in the CNS?

What would symptoms be?

Answer 1

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Possible symptoms—> numbness or other changes in sensation, alterations in behaviour & cognitive abilities, possible motor dysfunction —> paralysis possible

Question 2

Schizophrenia is characterized as repetitive psychotic episodes, what would be a cause of schizophrenia and what would be a recommended treatment

Answer 2

Possibly related to excessive release of dopamine

Tx= block postsynaptic dopamine receptors

Question 3

_____________are possibly related to deficiency in synaptic transmission of serotonin, norepinephrine, and/or dopamine

What would be the treatment?

Answer 3

Depressive disorders

Antidepressants (SSRI’s selective serotonin uptake inhibitors

Question 4

Anxiety disorders possibly stem from abnormal ________, _______, and ______ transmission

Answer 4

Norepinephrine, serotonin, and GABA transmission

Treatment includes antidepressants, those that can enhance GABA and others that modulate norepinephrine transmission

Question 5

What is epilepsy?

Answer 5

Recurrent episodes of seizures, abnormal, disorganized electrical activity in the brain.

Question 6

Explain epidural (spinal) anesthesia vs a lumbar puncture (spinal tap)

Answer 6

epidural (spinal) anesthesia—> local anesthetic injected into epidural space via needle

lumbar puncture (spinal tap)—> needle inserted into subarachnoid space between fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae