Due to Fever and Confusion, an 85-Year-Old Man Is Transferred

question 111

Multiple Choice

Due to fever and confusion, an 85-year-old man is transferred from a nursing home to the hospital. When the patient arrives, he is immediately admitted to the intensive care unit with a presumptive diagnosis of septic shock. Antibiotic therapy is begun. The patient is unable to provide a history, but his caregivers report that he has been experiencing nonspecific symptoms, including fever, for a few days. There is a history of cardiovascular disease, diverticulitis, and dementia in the patient. Despite aggressive intravenous hydration, blood pressure is 60/40 mm Hg. In response to the patient's hypotension, intravenous norepinephrine is administered. Which of the following cellular changes is most likely to occur in direct response to the medication?

• A)cAMP decrease in bronchial smooth muscle cells
• B)cAMP increase in cardiac muscle cells
• C)cAMP increase in vascular smooth muscle cells
• D)DAG decrease in vascular smooth muscle cells
• E)IP₃ increase in cardiac muscle cells