Question

question 13 (mandatory) (2 points) a 20 - year - old woman develops lower extremity muscle weakness and numbness following viral influenza. the weakness progresses to involve upper extremities and cranial nerves. she then requires hospitalization and intubation. a diagnostic biopsy of the peripheral nerve is performed. this biopsy is most likely to show: amyloid deposition within nerve fascicles axonal degeneration in a dying back pattern numerous redundant, periaxonal schwann cells active primary myelin degeneration

Explanation:

The patient's symptoms of progressive muscle weakness and numbness after viral influenza, involving multiple extremities and cranial nerves, are characteristic of Guillain - Barré syndrome. Guillain - Barré syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the peripheral nerves and is characterized by active primary myelin degeneration. Amyloid deposition is more typical of certain systemic diseases. Axonal degeneration in a 'dying - back' pattern is seen in other neurodegenerative conditions. Numerous redundant, periaxonal Schwann cells are not the main finding in this context.

Answer:

active primary myelin degeneration