ALTERATIONS IN CELLULAR PROCESSES

Scenario:

An 83-year-old resident of a skilled nursing facility presents to the emergency department with generalized edema of extremities and abdomen. History obtained from staff reveals the patient has a history of malabsorption syndrome and difficulty eating due to a lack of dentures. The patient has been diagnosed with protein malnutrition.

Post an explanation of the disease highlighted in the scenario you were provided. Include the following 5 points in your explanation, 3 references will support your points.

• The role genetics plays in the disease. (May or may not be applicable to patient. For example, protein malabsorption in elders does not have a genetic basis in this case).
• Why the patient is presenting with the specific symptoms described.
• The physiologic response to the stimulus presented in the scenario and why you think this response occurred.
• The cells that are involved in this process.
• How another characteristic (e.g., gender, genetics, age) would change your response. i.e. What might be a characteristic influencing your response?