Case Study #1 Ð Rheumatic Fever (RF) Ð Questions for analysis

 

What is meant by the phrase Òmolecular mimicry?

 

What precedes the development of RF?

 

What are the symptoms of RF?

 

What is a granuloma?

 

What are AshoffÕs nodules?

 

What is M-protein?  How many types of M-protein are there?  What is its connection to heart muscle?

 

What is a sedimentation rate?

 

Why would one measure C-reactive protein (CRP) in a patient?

 

Why would one measure the anti-streptolysin O titer (level) in a patient?

 

Why would one measure the anti-streptococcal DNase B titer in a patient?

 

Why would aspirin work against the arthritis in RF?

 

What does it mean that certain inflammations respond to aspirin and other types of inflammation respond to corticosteroids?