The nurse cares for the client with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Two granulomas were present in the chest x-ray. Which explanation does the nurse understand best describes the primary immune response to tuberculosis infection?

Choice A reason: Blood flow is diverted from the abdominal muscles to the liver due to increased intravascular pressure is not the best description because it is a condition that affects the distribution of blood in the body, not the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Intravascular pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the blood vessels, which can be affected by various factors, such as blood volume, cardiac output, or vascular resistance. Increased intravascular pressure can cause blood flow to be diverted from the peripheral areas, such as the abdominal muscles, to the central areas, such as the liver, which can result in symptoms such as portal hypertension, which is a high blood pressure in the vein that carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver.

Choice B reason: Vasodilation of the mesenteric blood vessels promotes movement of sodium into the peritoneum is not the best description because it is a condition that affects the diameter of the blood vessels in the abdomen, not the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Vasodilation is the widening of the blood vessels, which can be caused by various factors, such as nitric oxide, prostaglandins, or histamine. Vasodilation of the mesenteric blood vessels, which are the blood vessels that supply the intestines, can increase the blood flow and the permeability of the capillaries, which are the smallest blood vessels, allowing sodium and water to move from the blood to the peritoneum, which is the membrane that covers the abdominal organs and the abdominal wall. However, this is not the main mechanism for ascites development in this client, because the amount of sodium and water that moves through the capillaries is normally balanced by the lymphatic system, which is a network of vessels that drains the excess fluid and returns it to the blood.

Choice C reason: Fluid moves from the intravascular space to the interstitial space due to decreased serum albumin levels is the best description because it is a condition that affects the osmotic pressure of the blood, which is the main mechanism for ascites development in this client. Osmotic pressure is the pressure that is exerted by the solutes, such as proteins, in a solution, which determines the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane, such as the capillary wall. Albumin is the most abundant protein in the blood, which is produced by the liver and helps to maintain the osmotic pressure of the blood. Decreased serum albumin levels can be caused by various factors, such as liver failure, malnutrition, or inflammation. Decreased serum albumin levels can reduce the osmotic pressure of the blood, which means that the blood cannot retain enough water, causing fluid to move from the intravascular space, which is the space within the blood vessels, to the interstitial space, which is the space between the cells and the blood vessels. This can result in edema, which is the swelling of the tissues due to fluid accumulation, especially in the abdomen, which is called ascites.

Choice D reason: The liver metabolizes increased amounts of antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone is not the best description because it is a condition that affects the hormonal regulation of water and sodium balance, not the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone are hormones that help the kidneys retain water and sodium, respectively, and regulate the fluid and electrolyte balance in the body. Antidiuretic hormone is produced by the hypothalamus and secreted by the pituitary gland, while aldosterone is produced by the adrenal glands. The liver is involved in the metabolism and clearance of these hormones, which means that it breaks them down and removes them from the blood. Increased amounts of antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone can be caused by various factors, such as dehydration, heart failure, or renal failure. Increased amounts of antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone can cause the kidneys to reabsorb more water and sodium, which can increase the blood volume and the blood pressure, but this is not the main mechanism for ascites development in this client, because the fluid that accumulates in the abdomen is not from the kidneys, but from the capillaries.

Choice A reason: Fewer numbers of parietal cells in the gastric mucosa is not the best explanation because it is a condition that affects the production of gastric acid, not the development of duodenal ulcers. Parietal cells are the cells that secrete hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor in the stomach. Hydrochloric acid helps to digest food and kill bacteria, while intrinsic factor helps to absorb vitamin B12. Fewer numbers of parietal cells can cause hypochlorhydria, which is a low level of gastric acid, or pernicious anemia, which is a deficiency of vitamin B12. Hypochlorhydria can increase the risk of bacterial overgrowth and infections, while pernicious anemia can cause symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and neurological problems.

Choice B reason: Helicobacter pylori infection is the best explanation because it is the most common cause of duodenal ulcers, which are sores that form in the lining of the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum. Helicobacter pylori is a type of bacteria that can survive in the acidic environment of the stomach and the duodenum. It can damage the protective layer of mucus that covers the lining of the digestive tract, exposing it to the gastric acid and causing inflammation and ulceration. Helicobacter pylori infection can also increase the production of gastrin, which is a hormone that stimulates the secretion of gastric acid, and decrease the production of somatostatin, which is a hormone that inhibits the secretion of gastric acid.

Choice C reason: Slowed gastric emptying is not the best explanation because it is a condition that affects the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine, not the development of duodenal ulcers. Gastric emptying is the process of passing the food that has been partially digested in the stomach to the duodenum, where it is further broken down and absorbed. Slowed gastric emptying can be caused by various factors, such as diabetes, medications, or nerve damage, and can result in symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, or fullness.

Choice D reason: Frequent use of acetaminophen is not the best explanation because it is a factor that affects the development of gastric ulcers, not duodenal ulcers. Acetaminophen is a type of medication that is used to relieve pain and fever. It can cause gastric ulcers by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins, which are substances that protect the lining of the stomach from the gastric acid and promote healing. Acetaminophen can also cause liver damage if taken in high doses or for a long time.