Pharmacology: Differential Diagnoses & Proposed Treatment Plan Case Study Example

[Student’s Complete Name]

Differential Diagnosis

Past Medical History: No significant medical history.
Social History: No Smoking or Alcohol Consumption.
Hospitalizations: None.
Surgeries: None.
GEN: Well nourished, slightly obese female
Allergies: No Known Allergies
Problem: leg numbness and tingling from time to time; feeling thirsty and tired.
Differential Diagnosis: Multiple Myeloma
Discussion: Neurological test suggests of patient’s decreased peripheral sensation, which is contributing factor to mental fogginess and confusion. This is one indicative symptom for multiple myeloma as brain bends much activity on the production and release of plasma cells (Greipp et al., 2005). Signs and symptoms of multiple myeloma include weakness and numbness of the legs, fatigue, mental fogginess or confusion, excessive thirst, and bone pain among others. While it is easy to infer that because Marianna M. is already 61 years old she might be suffering from some types of rheumatism or infections on the arteries, laboratory results suggest otherwise.

Medications

Multiple Myeloma does not really need immediate treatment as long as symptoms are not apparent. However, the patient needs periodic blood and urine tests in order to monitor the progress of the disease (Mayo Clinic 2015). But in cases when symptoms become apparent,
the following treatments can be administered by a healthcare professional: (1) targeted therapy: drugs such as Bortezomib and Carfilzomib can help intercept the actions of substances in myeloma cells responsible for the breakdown of proteins (2) biological therapy: drugs that improve immune system to fight cancer cells i.e. Thalomid, Revlimid, and Pomalyst; (3) Chemotherapy; (4) Corticosteroids; (5) Stem Cell transplantation; and Radiation Therapy.

Reference List

Greipp, P.R. et al. (2005). International staging system for multiple myeloma. American
Society of Clinical Oncology, 23, 3412-3420. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2005.04.242
Mayo Clinic. (2015). Multiple myeloma. Retrieved 1 April 2015 from the Mayo Clinic
Website: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple- myeloma/basics/definition/con-20026607