What manifestation is expected when a person with a spinal cord injury develops autonomic dysreflexia?

Choice A reason: Thyrotoxic crisis (thyroid storm) is a life-threatening complication of hyperthyroidism, where excessive thyroid hormone release causes severe metabolic and cardiovascular symptoms. Triggers like infection or stress exacerbate thyroid activity, making this the correct disorder associated with thyrotoxic crisis.

Choice B reason: Hypothyroidism involves deficient thyroid hormone production, causing slowed metabolism, not thyrotoxic crisis, which requires excessive hormone levels. Low thyroid activity cannot lead to the hypermetabolic state of thyroid storm, making this choice incorrect.

Choice C reason: Addison’s disease involves adrenal insufficiency, reducing cortisol and aldosterone, unrelated to thyroid function. Thyrotoxic crisis stems from thyroid hormone excess, not adrenal issues, making this choice incorrect for the described complication.

Choice D reason: Diabetes mellitus affects glucose metabolism, not thyroid function. Thyrotoxic crisis is driven by thyroid hormone excess, causing metabolic and cardiovascular instability, not related to insulin or glucose dysregulation, making this choice incorrect.

Choice A reason: Abnormal tau proteins contribute to Alzheimer’s, forming neurofibrillary tangles, but damage is not limited to the frontal lobe. The hippocampus and other regions are primarily affected, leading to memory loss. This choice is too specific and incomplete, making it incorrect.

Choice B reason: Damaged blood vessels interrupting brain blood flow describe vascular dementia, not Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s involves neuronal degeneration from protein accumulation, not primarily vascular pathology, although vascular factors may contribute, making this choice incorrect for Alzheimer’s pathophysiology.

Choice C reason: Repeated traumatic brain injuries cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy, not Alzheimer’s. While trauma may increase Alzheimer’s risk, the primary pathology involves amyloid and tau proteins, not trauma-induced encephalopathy, making this choice incorrect for the disease’s core pathophysiology.

Choice D reason: Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by amyloid-beta plaques and tau protein tangles, which disrupt neuronal function, particularly in the hippocampus, leading to memory impairment. These protein aggregates cause synaptic loss and neurodegeneration, accurately describing the disease’s pathophysiology, making this the correct choice.