Case Studies

Question 1

Describe the toxic shock syndrome case study. What are the symptoms (5)?

Answer 1

• initiated by release of superantigen; causes burst of cytokine production by T cells
• causes dysregulation of cytokine network
• induces fever, blood clotting, diarrhea, hypotension (low blood pressure), shock; can be fatal

- leads to extremely high levels of IL-1 and TNF-alpha

Question 2

Describe the hemolytic disease of the newborn case study.

Answer 2

• induced by fetus; Rh incompatibility between mother and fetus
• maternal IgG alloantibodies cross placenta and cause hemolysis of fetal red cells; if not treated, it can cause severe anemia