Question

A patient has severe spastic paralysis if left untreated this can lead to death by paralysis of respiratory muscles. What is the cause of his symptoms and why?

A) Deficiency of acetylcholine receptors; respiratory muscle weakness
B) Overactivity of acetylcholinesterase; respiratory muscle paralysis
C) Excessive release of GABA; respiratory muscle spasticity
D) Deficiency of dopamine receptors; respiratory muscle rigidity

Answer 1

The patient's symptoms of severe spastic paralysis leading to potential death by respiratory muscle paralysis can be attributed to a deficiency of acetylcholine receptors, as seen in myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune neuromuscular disease.

Step-by-step explanation:

The cause of the symptoms of severe spastic paralysis that can lead to death by paralysis of respiratory muscles is most likely related to neuromuscular diseases. Two primary conditions associated with muscle paralysis and weakness are amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and myasthenia gravis. ALS is characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons that control voluntary muscle movement, leading to muscle weakness and eventually respiratory muscle paralysis. On the other hand, myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder that involves the production of antibodies against acetylcholine receptors on muscle cells, resulting in progressive muscle weakness and fatigue, and also potential respiratory failure. In the context of the options provided, Option A (Deficiency of acetylcholine receptors; respiratory muscle weakness) best explains the symptoms because it is directly related to the pathophysiology of myasthenia gravis, where the immune system creates antibodies that block or destroy these receptors, leading to the mentioned symptoms.