Question

Part 1 - Infertility Issues Lane nervously in the cumination room. She had no era wh e r d Brian her reassuring smile and squead her hand. There was a knock on the door and then it opened to admit the physician "Hello, Jane. I'm De Klein and Il be doing your fertility assessment today "It's nice to finally meet you Dr. Klein. This is my husband. Brian." The memiled at each other and shook hands Dr. Klein sat down on the tool and opened up a thick file. "Jame. The looked over the medical files that you had sent OVE to our office and I've cumined the preliminary blood tests you had done source last week. I just need to ask you a few questions, and then we'll do a quick camination to help me try to get to the cause of your fertility "Sure. I answer the best I can. Was anything missing from my medical records an d concerned that she had forgotten to send something the doctor would need Weve been trying to get pregnant for two years and nothing has worked. We both want kids so badly, and a friend recommended you, so I hope you can help De Klein smiled kindly at Jane and Brian. They were young, and there was no obvious explanation in Jane's file for her infertility De Klein's initial notes about Jane's medical history and recent blood tests included the following • 28-year-old Caucasian female • Diagnosed at 14 with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). • Diagnosed with anemia in her early 20s current hemoglobin levels a gmidl • Active lifestyle until past year, used to exercise daily and run halfmarathons until recent joint pain hindered her. • Broken wrist last year after a minor fall. • No history or abnormal pelvic excams or PAP scars • Hormone levels (estrogen, progesterone, LH and FSH) in normal ranges. • Patient reports her menstrual cycles are not very regular • Positive for several classes of autoantibodies. Looking up from his notes, De Klein asked. "Jane, have you been able to control your IBS symptoms? Do you still have bouts of diarrhea or constipation despite a healthy diet?" "T've never really been able to control the symptoms as much as I'd like. Jane said. "It's something I've just learned to live with. I've tried all sorts of different diets and nothing seems to help. I felt a little better on the new low carbohydrate diet that people have been talking about, but it was really hard to stick to. She looked questioningly at her husband, silently wondering what her stomach problems could have to do with her fertility issues "When Goed Antibodies Go Baby Crime and Griple "One of the things we test your blood for are the presence of antibodies. Recent studies indicate that women with infertility problems may have higher levels of autoantibodies in their blood. Your t res show that you are positive for several autoantibodies at levels higher than we would expect in a healthy female.De Klein could see the obvious confusion on Jane and Brian's faces. "Do cither of you know what antibodies or bodies and Questions 1. Pretend you are De Klein and first explain what an antibody is to Jane and Brian 2. Relate the basic definition of an antibody to explain an autoantibody in terms Jane and Brian will be able to unden and 3. What are three examples of autoantibodies that can be detected and the discuss they are sociated with 4. Given her digestive problems and the presence of antibodies indicating that her condition is toimmune). what are some possible diseases (besides IBS) har Jane might have

Answer 1

1. Antibody

a blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen. Antibodies combine chemically with substances which the body recognizes as alien, such as bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances in the blood.

2. Autoantibod

an antibody produced by an organism in response to a constituent of its own tissues.

3.