NSG 530 Exam 2 Advanced Pathophysiology
– Wilkes Questions & Answers
THIS EXAM CONTAINS:
100% Guarantee Pass.
Multiple-Choice (A-D), For Each Question.
Each Question Includes the Correct Answer
Expert-Verified Explanation
1. A patient was diagnosed as HIV positive several years ago. Which of the
following blood tests is most clinically useful for determining the stage and
severity of her disease?
a. Viral load count
b. CD4+ cell counts
c. White blood cell count
,d. Antibody titer test
Answer: b. CD4+ cell counts
Explanation: The CD4+ T-lymphocyte count is the key laboratory indicator of immune
function in HIV-infected individuals. It is the most important factor in determining the stage
of HIV disease, the risk of opportunistic infections, and when to initiate or change antiviral
therapy. While viral load is crucial for monitoring treatment efficacy, CD4 count directly
reflects the degree of immune system damage.
2. When the maternal immune system becomes sensitized against antigens
expressed by the fetus, what type of immune reaction occurs?
a. Autoimmune
b. Alloimmune
c. Hyperacute
d. Anaphylactic
Answer: b. Alloimmune
Explanation: Alloimmunity occurs when the immune system of one individual generates
an immune response against the tissues of another individual of the same species. In
pregnancy, the fetus expresses paternal antigens that can be recognized as foreign by the
mother's immune system, leading to conditions like hemolytic disease of the newborn
(HDN).
3. A 10-year-old male is stung by a bee while playing in the yard. He begins
itching and develops pains, swelling, redness and respiratory difficulties. He is
suffering from:
a. Serum sickness
b. Anaphylaxis
c. Autoimmunity
d. Hemolytic shock
Answer: b. Anaphylaxis
Explanation: This is a classic presentation of anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening,
systemic Type I hypersensitivity reaction. It is triggered by an allergen (bee venom) and
characterized by the rapid onset of symptoms involving the skin (itching, redness),
respiratory system (difficulty breathing), and cardiovascular system.
4. When a patient presents at the ED for an allergic reaction, the nurse
recognized the most severe consequences of a type I hypersensitivity reaction
is:
a. Urticaria
b. Bronchospasm
c. Laryngeal edema
d. Anaphylaxis
Answer: d. Anaphylaxis
Explanation: While urticaria, bronchospasm, and laryngeal edema are all serious
components of an allergic reaction, anaphylaxis represents the most severe systemic form.
It can involve multiple organ systems simultaneously and lead to cardiovascular collapse
and death if not treated immediately.
5. A nurse recalls that an example of an immune-complex-mediated disease is:
a. Graves' disease
b. Myasthenia gravis
c. Serum sickness
d. Contact dermatitis
, Answer: c. Serum sickness
Explanation: Serum sickness is a classic Type III hypersensitivity reaction. It occurs when
antibodies form against foreign proteins in treatments like antivenoms or certain drugs,
creating immune complexes that deposit in tissues, activate complement, and cause
inflammation in joints, blood vessels, and kidneys.
6. When a nurse cares for a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),
the nurse remembers this disease is an example of:
a. Alloimmunity
b. Autoimmunity
c. Homoimmunity
d. Hypersensitivity
Answer: b. Autoimmunity
Explanation: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disorder. It
is characterized by a loss of self-tolerance, leading the immune system to produce
autoantibodies that attack the body's own tissues, particularly DNA and other nuclear
components, causing widespread inflammation and damage.
7. A 30-year-old female c/o fatigue, arthritis, rash and changes in urine color.
Laboratory testing reveals anemia, lymphopenia and kidney inflammation.
Assuming a diagnosis of SLE, which of the following is also likely to be present?
a. Hyperglycemia
b. Autoantibodies
c. Elevated creatinine kinase
d. Low C-reactive protein
Answer: b. Autoantibodies
Explanation: The hallmark of SLE is the production of a variety of autoantibodies, most
notably antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA)
antibodies. These antibodies are directly involved in the pathogenesis of the disease and
are a key diagnostic criterion.
8. A 40-year-old is diagnosed with SLE. Which of the following findings would be
considered a symptom of this disease?
a. Gastric ulcer
b. Photosensitivity
c. Weight gain
d. Night sweats
Answer: b. Photosensitivity
Explanation: Photosensitivity, where exposure to ultraviolet light (e.g., sunlight) provokes
or exacerbates a skin rash, is a common and characteristic clinical feature of SLE. It is one
of the diagnostic criteria established by the American College of Rheumatology.
9. A person is given an attenuated antigen as a vaccine. When the person asks
what was given in the vaccine, how should the nurse respond? The antigen is:
a. Alive, but less infectious.
b. A toxoid.
c. Dead.
d. A component of a virus.
Answer: a. Alive, but less infectious.
Explanation: An attenuated vaccine contains a live pathogen that has been weakened
(attenuated) in the lab so that it can still replicate and provoke a strong immune response
but is unable to cause significant disease in a healthy individual. Examples include the
MMR and varicella vaccines.