Season 7
Episode 1 - Now What?
Brief Plot Summary
After the traumatic crane accident, House and Cuddy reveal their feelings for each other. House calls in and tells the team to take care of the current neurosurgeon problem since he's sick. They decide to treat his nausea with "experimental" drugs; they get him high. Thirteen thinks it could be toad eggs that poisoned him. The neurosurgeon gets better and the crisis is avoided.
After the traumatic crane accident, House and Cuddy reveal their feelings for each other. House calls in and tells the team to take care of the current neurosurgeon problem since he's sick. They decide to treat his nausea with "experimental" drugs; they get him high. Thirteen thinks it could be toad eggs that poisoned him. The neurosurgeon gets better and the crisis is avoided.
Episode 2 - Selfish
Brief Plot Summary
Della Carr is admitted after suddenly collapsing with heart arrhythmia. She then develops kidney failure and severe lung bleeding, which they suture to stop the bleed. Kidney biopsy reveals that it's not Goodpasture's syndrome. They do a lung transplant; however, her body rejects it. House then realizes that she has sickle cell anemia, but the transplant committee will never approve a new lung. They tell the family that they can take marrow and some of a lung from their son who already has a muscular dystrophy syndrome, meaning his life expectancy will be significantly shorter. After hearing this, her brother convinces her to take his lung and marrow so that she can live much longer.
Della Carr is admitted after suddenly collapsing with heart arrhythmia. She then develops kidney failure and severe lung bleeding, which they suture to stop the bleed. Kidney biopsy reveals that it's not Goodpasture's syndrome. They do a lung transplant; however, her body rejects it. House then realizes that she has sickle cell anemia, but the transplant committee will never approve a new lung. They tell the family that they can take marrow and some of a lung from their son who already has a muscular dystrophy syndrome, meaning his life expectancy will be significantly shorter. After hearing this, her brother convinces her to take his lung and marrow so that she can live much longer.
Diagnosed Disease: Sickle Cell Anemia - Hereditary blood disorder characterized by abnormal shape of red blood cells due to a malfunctioning hemoglobin gene.
SymptomsAnemia, episodes of pain due to sudden ischemia and tissue necrosis as a result of reduced blood flow, swollen hands and feet, frequent infections, vision problems
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CausesHereditary blood disorder passed on through the sickle cell mutation. Carriers suffer a milder version of sickle cell which presents with little symptoms but proves resistant against malaria. This is a result of codominance.
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TestsSickle cells can be seen on a blood film and genetic testing can be done to test for the sickle cell gene.
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Treatment/CureA potential cure for the disease is having a bone marrow transplant, which comes with it's own problems such as graft vs host disease. Blood transfusions have succeeded as an effective treatment option. Antibiotics are also given to prevent infections.
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Source Links: Wiki, Mayo Clinic
Episode 3 - Unwritten
Brief Plot Summary
Alice Tanner is admitted when she has a seizure while trying to kill herself. They think it's mercury poisoning and are going to start chelation when she has a sudden onset of a seizure, pain, hyperhidrosis, and spike in blood pressure. Linking both seizures to a rise in adrenaline, House suggests an MRI to find a pheochromocytoma. Entering the MRI, the magnetic field superheats 3 metal screws in her leg from a skiing accident leading to 3rd degree burns and tissue damage. An ultrasound reveals a pericardial effusion. The team thinks it could be Lupus and they begin to test for it. House deduces a car accident and thinks it's hypothyroidism. Unable to find medical records, they realize Alice is her pen name. Her son died in the car crash but House lies and shows her that he would have died anyways from a brain aneurysm. They do the surgery to remove the syringomyelia that formed after her crash leading to her depression, pain, and paralysis.
Alice Tanner is admitted when she has a seizure while trying to kill herself. They think it's mercury poisoning and are going to start chelation when she has a sudden onset of a seizure, pain, hyperhidrosis, and spike in blood pressure. Linking both seizures to a rise in adrenaline, House suggests an MRI to find a pheochromocytoma. Entering the MRI, the magnetic field superheats 3 metal screws in her leg from a skiing accident leading to 3rd degree burns and tissue damage. An ultrasound reveals a pericardial effusion. The team thinks it could be Lupus and they begin to test for it. House deduces a car accident and thinks it's hypothyroidism. Unable to find medical records, they realize Alice is her pen name. Her son died in the car crash but House lies and shows her that he would have died anyways from a brain aneurysm. They do the surgery to remove the syringomyelia that formed after her crash leading to her depression, pain, and paralysis.
Diagnosed Disease: Syringomyelia - Disorder in which a cyst (syrinx) forms in the spinal cord which grows and elongates over time.
SymptomsPain, paralysis, weakness, stiffness in neck, seizures, other muscular and neurological symptoms
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CausesExcess CSF in the spinal cord can penetrate into the white matter forming a cyst. Can be congenital such as in Arnold-Chiara malformation, or acquired as a complication from trauma such as a car crash
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TestsAn MRI or CT scan will reveal the cyst in the spine. Lumbar puncture can help further analyze the CSF.
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Treatment/CureSurgical removal is the course of treatment. However, in rare cases where surgery is not recommended due to excessive risks, patients are assisted with pain management through drugs.
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Source Links: Wiki
Episode 4 - Massage Therapy
Brief Plot Summary
Margaret is admitted after she begins vomiting uncontrollably and has severe abdominal pain. They test for hepatic fibrosis with an angiogram and lead poisoning both of which are negative; however, they find that she has several fractures in her ribs 10 years ago. They further realize that she has stolen someone's identity and her real name is Jenni. She then has super-ventricular tachycardia. Poison seems to fit and they begin treatment. She then spikes a high fever. Later when her husband confronts her, she starts to hallucinate. Right before they get a brain biopsy, her symptoms of fever, vomiting, and tachycardia disappear. She continues to hallucinate. House realizes that she has schizophrenia and that the rest of her symptoms were a result of her medications.
Margaret is admitted after she begins vomiting uncontrollably and has severe abdominal pain. They test for hepatic fibrosis with an angiogram and lead poisoning both of which are negative; however, they find that she has several fractures in her ribs 10 years ago. They further realize that she has stolen someone's identity and her real name is Jenni. She then has super-ventricular tachycardia. Poison seems to fit and they begin treatment. She then spikes a high fever. Later when her husband confronts her, she starts to hallucinate. Right before they get a brain biopsy, her symptoms of fever, vomiting, and tachycardia disappear. She continues to hallucinate. House realizes that she has schizophrenia and that the rest of her symptoms were a result of her medications.
Diagnosed Disease: Schizophrenia - Chronic mental disorder characterized by abnormal social behavior and the inability to recognize what is real
SymptomsHallucinations, delusions, inability to show emotion, depression, etc. Most symptoms are categorized into positive and negative categories.
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CausesCombination of genetic and environmental factors; however, those with a family history are at a much higher risk of having the condition.
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TestsDiagnosis is established based on certain criteria relating to a patient's display of certain symptoms.
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Treatment/CureThere is no cure available for this condition; however, it is treated with antipsychotic medications and for severe cases, patients may be put into psych wards for extra attention and help.
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