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USMLE
Adrenergic drugs
A 35-year-old man was admitted to the hospital following a car accident, and a blood transfusion was started. A few minutes later, he complained of nausea and pruritus and developed dyspnea with audible wheezing. His skin was mottled and cold, heart rate was 120 bpm , and blood pressure fell to 80/40 m m Hg. An intramuscular injection of epinephrine was given. Which of the following actions of the drug most likely contributed to its therapeutic efficacy in this patient?
Explanation
ExplanationD The symptom s and signs of the patient suggest that he had an acute anaphylactic reaction, which sometimes occurs following a blood transfusion. One of the useful actions of epinephrine in this disorder is the β2 receptor−mediated inhibition of degranulation of mast cells, which prevents the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators.
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