Other Pulmonary Diseases

Question 1

guillain-barré syndrome

Answer 1

Guillain-Barre (gee-YAH-buh-RAY) syndrome is a rare disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks your nerves. Weakness and tingling in your extremities are usually the first symptoms.

These sensations can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing your whole body. In its most severe form Guillain-Barre syndrome is a medical emergency. Most people with the condition must be hospitalized to receive treatment.

The exact cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome is unknown. But it is often preceded by an infectious illness such as a respiratory infection or the stomach flu.

Question 2

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)

Answer 2

Cystic lung disease exclusively of young women
Mutation in tuberous sclerosis gene 1 or 2
Peribronchovascular proliferation of smooth muscle cells
Cysts and nodules
Spontaneous pneumothorax and chylothorax common
Obstructive pattern on PFTs
Renal tumors (angiomyolipomas)
Potential treatment with mTOR inhibitors (sirolimus is the treatment)

Question 3

Myasthenia gravis

Answer 3

characterized by weakness and rapid fatigue of any of the muscles under your voluntary control

Myasthenia gravis is caused by a breakdown in the normal communication between nerves and muscles.

n myasthenia gravis, your immune system produces antibodies that block or destroy many of your muscles’ receptor sites for a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine (as-uh-teel-KOH-leen). With fewer receptor sites available, your muscles receive fewer nerve signals, resulting in weakness

There is no cure for myasthenia gravis, but treatment can help relieve signs and symptoms, such as weakness of arm or leg muscles, double vision, drooping eyelids, and difficulties with speech, chewing, swallowing and breathing

Question 4

Multiple sclerosis

Answer 4

Pain areas: in the back or eyes
Pain circumstances: can occur in the back due to head nod or with eye movement
Tremor: can occur during precise movements, in the hands, or limbs
Muscular: cramping, difficulty walking, inability to rapidly change motions, involuntary movements, muscle paralysis, muscle rigidity, muscle weakness, problems with coordination, stiff muscles, clumsiness, muscle spasms, or overactive reflexes
Whole body: fatigue, dizziness, heat intolerance, poor balance, vertigo, or weakness
Urinary: excessive urination at night, leaking of urine, persistent urge to urinate, or urinary retention
Sensory: pins and needles, abnormality of taste, or uncomfortable tingling and burning
Visual: blurred vision, double vision, or vision loss
Sexual: erectile dysfunction or sexual dysfunction
Mood: anxiety or mood swings
Speech: slurred speech or impaired voice
Also common: acute episodes, constipation, depression, difficulty swallowing, difficulty thinking and understanding, headache, heavy legs, numbness, numbness of face, rapid involuntary eye movement, sleep deprivation, tongue numbness, or difficulty raising the foot

Question 5

ALS

Answer 5

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (a-mi-o-TROE-fik LAT-ur-ul skluh-ROE-sis), or ALS, is a nervous system (neurological) disease that causes muscle weakness and impacts physical function.

ALS often begins with muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg, or sometimes with slurring of speech. Eventually, ALS can affect your ability to control the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe. ALS can’t be cured and eventually leads to death.