Monet’s kidneys and liver were destroyed. Monet’s liver and kidneys were yellow and liquefied. Monet’s liver was basically nonexistent. His intestinal lining had come off. Monet’s insides looked like that of a corpse. The doctors did not know Monet’s exact cause of death; it could have been “the clotting, the massive hemorrhages, the liver turned into pudding, [or] the intestines full of blood” (Preston, 1994, p. 22). Connective tissue disease affects the protein-rich tissue that supports organs and other parts of the body, such as fat, bone, and cartilage, occasionally affecting the “eyes, heart, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and blood vessels” (“Connective Tissue Disease: Types, Symptoms, Causes”). Mixed connective tissue disease, a type of connective tissue disease, has signs and symptoms of multiple disorders, such as “primarily lupus, scleroderma and polymyositis” (“Mixed connective tissue disease”). Similar to Monet’s Ebola infection, mixed connective tissue has no cure, but it is treated with medications. Complications associated with mixed connective tissue disease include high blood pressure in the lungs, interstitial lung disease, heart disease, tissue death, and kidney disease, among other things. This disease leads to kidney failure and scarred lungs. No one knew how or where Monet contracted Ebola; similarly, the exact cause of mixed connective tissue disease is unknown. The immune system attacks the fibers that are the framework of the body. Instead of fighting infected cells, the immune system fights healthy cells, degrading the patient from the inside out. Similarly, Monet’s insides were destroyed.
Citations: Preston, R. (1994). The Hot Zone. New York City, New York: Random House. Connective Tissue Disease: Types, Symptoms, Causes. (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2015, from http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/connective-tissue-disease Mixed connective tissue disease. (2015, April 3). Retrieved April 18, 2015, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mixed-connective-tissue-disease/basics/definition/con-20026515
Julieta’s answer is absolutely correct, but I would like to approach this question in another way. What causes connective tissue damage? There are several of disorders that actually affect the connective tissue of an organism. Some connective tissue diseases can be inherited, but other forms of connective tissue disease are believed to be “triggered by something in the environment,” (“Connective Tissue Disease: Types, Symptoms, Causes”) however it only targets certain people who may be genetically susceptible to it. These types of diseases are known as autoimmune diseases, which can include mixed connective tissue disease, as Julieta stated, and also scleroderma. Scleroderma is a type of connective tissue damage that “causes thick, tight skin, buildup of scar tissue, and organ damage” (“Connective Tissue Disease: Types, Symptoms, Causes”). There are two types of scleroderma: localized and systemic sclerosis. What Monet seemed to have is systemic sclerosis, which involves major organ damage; in Monet’s case, his kidney and liver were failing.
Connective Tissue Disease: Types, Symptoms, Causes. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/connective-tissue-disease?page=2
Monet’s kidneys and liver were destroyed. Monet’s liver and kidneys were yellow and liquefied. Monet’s liver was basically nonexistent. His intestinal lining had come off. Monet’s insides looked like that of a corpse. The doctors did not know Monet’s exact cause of death; it could have been “the clotting, the massive hemorrhages, the liver turned into pudding, [or] the intestines full of blood” (Preston, 1994, p. 22). Connective tissue disease affects the protein-rich tissue that supports organs and other parts of the body, such as fat, bone, and cartilage, occasionally affecting the “eyes, heart, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and blood vessels” (“Connective Tissue Disease: Types, Symptoms, Causes”). Mixed connective tissue disease, a type of connective tissue disease, has signs and symptoms of multiple disorders, such as “primarily lupus, scleroderma and polymyositis” (“Mixed connective tissue disease”). Similar to Monet’s Ebola infection, mixed connective tissue has no cure, but it is treated with medications. Complications associated with mixed connective tissue disease include high blood pressure in the lungs, interstitial lung disease, heart disease, tissue death, and kidney disease, among other things. This disease leads to kidney failure and scarred lungs. No one knew how or where Monet contracted Ebola; similarly, the exact cause of mixed connective tissue disease is unknown. The immune system attacks the fibers that are the framework of the body. Instead of fighting infected cells, the immune system fights healthy cells, degrading the patient from the inside out. Similarly, Monet’s insides were destroyed.
ReplyDeleteCitations:
Preston, R. (1994). The Hot Zone. New York City, New York: Random House.
Connective Tissue Disease: Types, Symptoms, Causes. (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2015, from http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/connective-tissue-disease
Mixed connective tissue disease. (2015, April 3). Retrieved April 18, 2015, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mixed-connective-tissue-disease/basics/definition/con-20026515
Julieta’s answer is absolutely correct, but I would like to approach this question in another way. What causes connective tissue damage? There are several of disorders that actually affect the connective tissue of an organism. Some connective tissue diseases can be inherited, but other forms of connective tissue disease are believed to be “triggered by something in the environment,” (“Connective Tissue Disease: Types, Symptoms, Causes”) however it only targets certain people who may be genetically susceptible to it. These types of diseases are known as autoimmune diseases, which can include mixed connective tissue disease, as Julieta stated, and also scleroderma. Scleroderma is a type of connective tissue damage that “causes thick, tight skin, buildup of scar tissue, and organ damage” (“Connective Tissue Disease: Types, Symptoms, Causes”). There are two types of scleroderma: localized and systemic sclerosis. What Monet seemed to have is systemic sclerosis, which involves major organ damage; in Monet’s case, his kidney and liver were failing.
DeleteConnective Tissue Disease: Types, Symptoms, Causes. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/connective-tissue-disease?page=2