Graves Disease, Mr Metzeners Aldosterone Hormones - Essay Example

The patient is related to a family with a history of autoimmune diseases. There are many ways to treat Graves’s disease but in this case, Radioiodine is safe and efficient. It involves the use of iodine radioactive isotopes to induce hypothyroidism which is easy and cheap to treat.

The second case study showed that endocrine glands that are likely to cause symptoms portrayed by the patient are adrenal glands, kidneys, liver, or ovaries. There are also several hormones involved: the first one is androgen which is responsible for the growth of hair below the abdomen and on the thighs, but at higher concentration causes growth in other body parts such as the face in this case. The second one is the Cortisol hormone which control metabolism in the liver and muscle fats which led to fatigue and injury of the capillaries walls which explains the abdominal pains. The other involved hormones are aldosterone and steroid hormones. Adrenal diseases are associated with adrenal gland problems which may be either primary or secondary. The main difference between the two is the impact on the body's functions. A primary gland problem exists when only the gland is affected while a Secondary gland problem affects other body organs such as the liver or the heart. Alterations of these hormones are mostly caused by adrenal insufficiency or high blood pressure (“Clinical Case,”2001).

The patient in the third case study could be diagnosed with hyponatremia characterized by low serum sodium, unconsciousness, and muscle weakness. Low sodium test would be caused by atrial tension from the increase of pressure on the central nerve stimulating the production of atrial natriuretic peptide which hinders reabsorption of Na+ back into the bloodstream (“Clinical Case,”2001). However, normality in potassium levels, Cl- levels, and HCO3 levels on lab results shows that the patient was undiagnosed for some years. High glucose levels and the absence of ketones in the urine would suggest kidney failure or failure to synthesize proteins involved in the uptake of sodium. Pneumonia is a respiratory disease and could not have contributed to the patient’s previous state.

In the fourth case study, Mr. Metzener’s aldosterone hormones are being produced in excess hence resulting in more excretion of sodium. Therefore, to try and balance salt and water levels in the blood, the body needs a lot of water which explains his polyuria condition. Some of the aldosterone hormone alteration causes would be initiated by either nervous tension or excessive extracellular fluids (“Clinical Case,”2001). Secretion of excessive extracellular fluids would raise water levels in the bloodstream triggering the production of excessive aldosterone hormones for an equal production of NA+.

The condition in the fifth case study is known as hyponatremia characterized by hyperproduction of the aldosterone hormone. Aldosterone hormone is produced by the adrenal gland. This case differs from that of Mr. Metzener because there are no signs of depletion of fluids or excess extracellular fluids. Therefore, the other likely cause of alteration in the hormone could be never tension (“Clinical Case,”2001). Read More