"WGU D027 Advanced Pathopharmacology 2025/2026– Comprehensive
Study Guide for Success" Latest Updated Walden University
"WGU D027 Advanced Pathopharmacology
2025/2026– Comprehensive Study Guide for Success"
Latest Updated Walden University
What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia? - Correct
Answer >- Brain shrinks dramatically; nerve cell death and tissue loss
- Cardinal signs: plaques (abnormal clusters of protein fragments) and tangles
(twisted strands of another protein)
How is Alzheimer's treated? - Correct Answer >- There is no cure, but there are
pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
What are cholinesterase inhibitors prescribed for? - Correct Answer >- To
treat symptoms related to memory, thinking, language, judgment, and other
processes
- Helps delay or slow the worsening of symptoms
What does cholinesterase inhibitors do? - Correct Answer >- Prevent the
breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger that is important for learning
and memory
- Supports communication among nerve cells by keeping the acetylcholine high
What is the cause of Prader-Willi Syndrome? - Correct Answer >- Depletion
of chromosome 15 from father
- Missing or non-working genes on chromosome 15 (15q11-q13)
pg. 1
,"WGU D027 Advanced Pathopharmacology 2025/2026– Comprehensive
Study Guide for Success" Latest Updated Walden University
- Most cases are not inherited and occur randomly
- Depletion of genes (genes from the region are missing)
- Uniparental disomy - both chromosomes are inherited from the mother -
Imprinting mutation - genes on the paternal chromosome is inactive
What does Prader-Willi Syndrome do to the body? - Correct Answer >-
Caused the hypothalamus to malfunction (the area of the brain that affects hunger,
thirst, sex and growth hormones)
- In infancy, an individual does not meet development milestones suck as sitting up
and walking - Their eyes lack coordination
What is a key feature of Prader-Willi Syndrome? - Correct Answer >- A
constant sense of hunger that usually begins around 2 years of age
- People with Prader-Willi Syndrome want to eat constantly because they never feel
full
What are some symptoms in infants with Prader-Willi Syndrome? - Correct
Answer >-
Hypotonia with floppy structure and poor muscle tone
- Distinct facial features affecting the shape and size of eyes, lips, forehead, etc.
- Poor sucking ability making it difficult to feed
- Always lethargic and poor responsiveness
- Underdeveloped genitals
What is celiac disease? - Correct Answer >- Autoimmune disease
- Damages to the small intestinal epithelium when there is ingestion of gluten
pg. 2
,"WGU D027 Advanced Pathopharmacology 2025/2026– Comprehensive
Study Guide for Success" Latest Updated Walden University
- Loss of mucosal surface and brush border enzymes leads to severe malabsorption
that is more pronounced in the duodenum and jejunum
What strong genetic disposition does celiac disease have? - Correct Answer >-
Human leukocyte antigen DQ2 (HLA-DQ2) and HLA-DQ5
What test is recommended for celiac disease? - Correct Answer
>- IgA-tTG - Total IgA
- Simple, inexpensive, widely available, typically covered by insurance, and is very
accurate in untreated celiac disease
What are the recommended tests for celiac disease? - Correct Answer >- Total
IgA
- IgA-tTg
- IgA-EMA
- If IgA is deficient, it is recommended that IgG/IgA-DGP also be ordered
What are diagnostic methods of celiac disease? - Correct Answer >- Serologic
measurements of antiendomysial and antitrandsglutaminase IgA antibodies and
HLA-DQ2 or
HLA-DQ8
- Duodenal biopsy
What are tests are used in the diagnosing Crohn's disease? - Correct Answer >-
Antisaccharomyces antibody test (ASCA)
- CBC (H/H, WBC)
- Heme-occult
pg. 3
, "WGU D027 Advanced Pathopharmacology 2025/2026– Comprehensive
Study Guide for Success" Latest Updated Walden University
- C-reactive protein (sign of inflammation)
- Electrolyte panel (K due to diarrhea)
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (amount of inflammation)
- Iron and B12 levels
- KUB
- Upper endoscopy
- Barium x-rays
- CT/MRI (external view)
- Video capsule endoscopy
Which tests may show lesions for patients with Crohn's disease? - Correct
Answer >-
Barium x-ray - in the small intestines
- Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy (primarily) - in the large intestines
Which two lab tests measure inflammation? - Correct Answer >- C-
reactive protein - Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (looks at the amount of
inflammation by measuring the amount of time it takes for erythrocytes to
fall to the bottom of the tube)
What are some medications/treatments used to treat Crohn's disease? -
Correct Answer >-
- Corticosteroids
- Immunosuppressants
- Biologics (remicade)
- Antibiotics
pg. 4
Study Guide for Success" Latest Updated Walden University
"WGU D027 Advanced Pathopharmacology
2025/2026– Comprehensive Study Guide for Success"
Latest Updated Walden University
What are some physical changes from Alzheimer's dementia? - Correct
Answer >- Brain shrinks dramatically; nerve cell death and tissue loss
- Cardinal signs: plaques (abnormal clusters of protein fragments) and tangles
(twisted strands of another protein)
How is Alzheimer's treated? - Correct Answer >- There is no cure, but there are
pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments
- Cholinesterase inhibitors
- Memantine (namenda)
What are cholinesterase inhibitors prescribed for? - Correct Answer >- To
treat symptoms related to memory, thinking, language, judgment, and other
processes
- Helps delay or slow the worsening of symptoms
What does cholinesterase inhibitors do? - Correct Answer >- Prevent the
breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger that is important for learning
and memory
- Supports communication among nerve cells by keeping the acetylcholine high
What is the cause of Prader-Willi Syndrome? - Correct Answer >- Depletion
of chromosome 15 from father
- Missing or non-working genes on chromosome 15 (15q11-q13)
pg. 1
,"WGU D027 Advanced Pathopharmacology 2025/2026– Comprehensive
Study Guide for Success" Latest Updated Walden University
- Most cases are not inherited and occur randomly
- Depletion of genes (genes from the region are missing)
- Uniparental disomy - both chromosomes are inherited from the mother -
Imprinting mutation - genes on the paternal chromosome is inactive
What does Prader-Willi Syndrome do to the body? - Correct Answer >-
Caused the hypothalamus to malfunction (the area of the brain that affects hunger,
thirst, sex and growth hormones)
- In infancy, an individual does not meet development milestones suck as sitting up
and walking - Their eyes lack coordination
What is a key feature of Prader-Willi Syndrome? - Correct Answer >- A
constant sense of hunger that usually begins around 2 years of age
- People with Prader-Willi Syndrome want to eat constantly because they never feel
full
What are some symptoms in infants with Prader-Willi Syndrome? - Correct
Answer >-
Hypotonia with floppy structure and poor muscle tone
- Distinct facial features affecting the shape and size of eyes, lips, forehead, etc.
- Poor sucking ability making it difficult to feed
- Always lethargic and poor responsiveness
- Underdeveloped genitals
What is celiac disease? - Correct Answer >- Autoimmune disease
- Damages to the small intestinal epithelium when there is ingestion of gluten
pg. 2
,"WGU D027 Advanced Pathopharmacology 2025/2026– Comprehensive
Study Guide for Success" Latest Updated Walden University
- Loss of mucosal surface and brush border enzymes leads to severe malabsorption
that is more pronounced in the duodenum and jejunum
What strong genetic disposition does celiac disease have? - Correct Answer >-
Human leukocyte antigen DQ2 (HLA-DQ2) and HLA-DQ5
What test is recommended for celiac disease? - Correct Answer
>- IgA-tTG - Total IgA
- Simple, inexpensive, widely available, typically covered by insurance, and is very
accurate in untreated celiac disease
What are the recommended tests for celiac disease? - Correct Answer >- Total
IgA
- IgA-tTg
- IgA-EMA
- If IgA is deficient, it is recommended that IgG/IgA-DGP also be ordered
What are diagnostic methods of celiac disease? - Correct Answer >- Serologic
measurements of antiendomysial and antitrandsglutaminase IgA antibodies and
HLA-DQ2 or
HLA-DQ8
- Duodenal biopsy
What are tests are used in the diagnosing Crohn's disease? - Correct Answer >-
Antisaccharomyces antibody test (ASCA)
- CBC (H/H, WBC)
- Heme-occult
pg. 3
, "WGU D027 Advanced Pathopharmacology 2025/2026– Comprehensive
Study Guide for Success" Latest Updated Walden University
- C-reactive protein (sign of inflammation)
- Electrolyte panel (K due to diarrhea)
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (amount of inflammation)
- Iron and B12 levels
- KUB
- Upper endoscopy
- Barium x-rays
- CT/MRI (external view)
- Video capsule endoscopy
Which tests may show lesions for patients with Crohn's disease? - Correct
Answer >-
Barium x-ray - in the small intestines
- Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy (primarily) - in the large intestines
Which two lab tests measure inflammation? - Correct Answer >- C-
reactive protein - Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (looks at the amount of
inflammation by measuring the amount of time it takes for erythrocytes to
fall to the bottom of the tube)
What are some medications/treatments used to treat Crohn's disease? -
Correct Answer >-
- Corticosteroids
- Immunosuppressants
- Biologics (remicade)
- Antibiotics
pg. 4
