A 34-Year-Old Woman Experiences Nausea, Abdominal Pain, and Dizziness After

A 34-year-old woman experiences nausea, abdominal pain, and dizziness after undergoing open reduction and internal fixation of a femur fracture.  One year ago, she was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus with significant renal involvement, and she has since been on chronic glucocorticoid therapy with prednisone.  The patient was maintained on her usual daily dose of prednisone throughout the perioperative period.  Blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg and pulse is 120/min.  Compared to the normal physiologic response to surgery, this patient most likely has which of the following patterns of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Correct Answer:

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