9. DIABETES INSIPIDUS
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a disorder of urinary concentration caused by a temporary or chronic deficiency of or insensitivity to vasopressin, or antidiuretic hormone (ADH). This condition leaves…
34. LAMBERT-EATON MYASTHENIC SYNDROME
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is a rare, antibody-mediated autoimmune disorder. It can occur sporadically or as a paraneoplastic syndrome, most often associated with small cell carcinoma of the…
31. HYPONATREMIA
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS Hyponatremia is a disorder of hypo-osmolality in which the rate of sodium loss exceeds the rate of water loss (true hyponatremia). Another type of hyponatremia, relative hyponatremia, is…
17. GASTROINTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION: BILIARY, GASTRIC, AND BOWEL OBSTRUCTIONS
This chapter covers three types of gastrointestinal obstructive problems: biliary obstruction, gastric obstruction, and bowel obstruction. Obstructive disorders of the biliary and gastrointestinal tract are common complications in patients with…
29. HYPOKALEMIA
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS Hypokalemia is a low serum potassium level, which may result from a number of conditions. The normal serum potassium level ranges from 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L; hypokalemia exists…
27. HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS TO CHEMOTHERAPY
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS A hypersensitivity reaction (HSR) is defined as “an exaggerated immune response that results in local tissue injury or changes throughout the body in response to an antigen or…
11. DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION (DIC)
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS DIC is a secondary disorder that occurs as a result of tissue injury, inflammation, or abnormal regulatory mechanisms (Fig. 11.1) (Mercer et al., 2006; Toh & Downey, 2005;…
25. HYPERLEUKOCYTOSIS IN CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS Hyperleukocytosis is a life-threatening phenomenon that occurs when a peripheral leukocyte count exceeds 100,000/mL. An increase in the absolute number of one or more of the white blood…
22. HEPATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome marked by disturbances in consciousness, personality, intellect, and neuromuscular coordination and control; a diminishing level of consciousness; and electroencephalographic changes….
