MN 551 ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Exam Study
Guide – Practice Questions with
Verified Answers. GRADED A+.
Latest 2026/2027 Update
Do women or men more often have multiple sclerosis? - ANSWERS✔✔ - Women
(2-3:1)
Which disease has the following risk factors:
-Epstein-barr virus (EBV)
-Live above the 37th parallel
-Caucasian
-Female
-Vitamin D deficiency: Decreased time between clinical isolated syndrome (CIS)
and 2nd exacerbation
-Smoking - ANSWERS✔✔ - Multiple Sclerosis
What is the main pathophysiological theory for multiple sclerosis? - ANSWERS✔✔
- It's an autoimmune/neurodegenerative disease:
-inflammation
-demyelination/remyelination
-permanent axonal damage
What are the Myelin forming cells of the CNS? - ANSWERS✔✔ - Oligodendrocytes
What do T-Helper cell types 1 & 17 do? - ANSWERS✔✔ - Pro-inflammatory
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What does T-Helper cell type 2 do? - ANSWERS✔✔ - Anti-inflammatory
What is the pathophysiology of Multple Sclerosis? - ANSWERS✔✔ - 1.
Autoreactive T cells express Very Late Antegen-4 (VLA-4, aka α4-integrin) on their
cell surface and secrete Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP).
2. VLA-4 binds to Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule (VCAM) receptors on the blood
brain barrier (BBB) and MMP results in dysregulation of the BBB, allowing cell
entry into the CNS.
3. Once in the CNS, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, INF-γ, and Osteopontin
[OP])
are secreted resulting in inflammation and further T cell entry into the
CNS.
4. T cells in the CNS interact with microglia, astrocytes, and macrophages to
produce
reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide causing CNS
damage.
5. B cells acts as ACPs, enter the CNS, and produce myelin-specific antibodies
that
form membrane attack complexes with complement causing cell
lysis.
Which disease presents in the following way:
**Visual changes, optic neuritis (Often the 1st sign/symptom) -
Paresthesias
-Gait issues/falls
-Foot drop
-Dysdiadochokinesia
-Fatigue
-Weakness
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-Impaired coordination
-Cognitive changes
MRI:
***Gadolinium enhanced
lesions
LUMBAR PUNCTURE TEST:
-Increased
IgG
-Increased Myelin basic protein
(MBP)
-Increased CSF protein - ANSWERS✔✔ - Multiple
Sclerosis
Which cognitive test is most commonly used to diagnose MS? - ANSWERS✔✔ -
Symbol
Digit Modalities Test
(SDMT)
What is the primary diagnostic test for MS? - ANSWERS✔✔ - MRI with or
without
contrast
What is the most common type of MS, which is involves episodes of acute
worsening with some recovery and no progression in between exacerbations? -
ANSWERS✔✔ - Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS)
What type of MS can develop from RRMS, have a steady progression of the disease
in
between exacerbations, and present with more black holes and brain
atrophy? -
ANSWERS IS- Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS)
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What type of MS is the least common, it doesn't develop from RRMS and is the
progressive worsening of the disease from the start, lacking recovery times? -
ANSWERS✔✔ - Primary Progressive MS (PPMS)
What is the prognosis (good or bad) for someone with MS who is:
- under 40 years old
-Female
-First sign/symptom is optic neuritis/sensory issues
-Low exacerbation frequency
-RRMS
-Single lesion - ANSWERS✔✔ - Good prognosis
What is the prognosis (good or bad) for someone with MS
who is:
- over 40 years
old
-
Male
-First sign/symptom is motor or
cerebellar
-Multiple lesion
locations
-PPMS - ANSWERS✔✔ - Bad
prognosis
What are the treatment goals for treating MS? - ANSWERS✔✔ - -Decrease
attack/exacerbation rate
-Decrease annualized relapse rate (ARR)
-Slow progression of disease
-Prevent/limit ADRs
-Symptom management (fatigue, bladder dysfunction, cognitive dysfunction,
constipation, depression)
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