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Spin (House)
Encyclopedia
"Spin" is the sixth episode of the second season of House
, which premiered on the Fox
network on November 15, 2005.
) who wants to race in the Tour de France
is brought to House's clinic after collapsing during a race and being treated at the scene by medics. He is surprisingly honest about several illegal medications and techniques he applied to himself, but his sickness is not caused by any of these. House believes he is not completely honest, whilst Cameron does not cope well with Jeff's foul play.
In the course of making a diagnosis the team deduced the presence of an air-embolus. When the air-embolism was found and removed, without helping his symptoms followed by system-wide muscle weakness, Encephalitis
or nerve-damage or paraneoplastic symptomatic bone cancer is differentiated, none of which is confirmed. Then and throughout most of the episode, House is convinced he is taking animal cultured Erythropoietin
(short half-life EPO) which acts by binding to a specific erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) on the surface of red cell precursors in the bone marrow, stimulating them to transform into mature red blood cells. As a result the oxygen level in blood reaching the kidney rises and the amount of EPO produced naturally decreases, thus presumably causing all of Jeff's symptoms as he fails to produce red blood cells on his own (Anemia
caused by acute Acquired pure red cell aplasia
). However, after responding to Prednisone
(an Immunosuppressive drug
) treatment by losing more red blood cells to the point of requiring a transfusion, House instructs to go scan his neck, when a Thymoma
is found (causing chronic PRCA
and previously countered Myasthenia gravis
). The team realizes that Jeff's illegal treatments have inadvertently been keeping the aplasia under control, and now that the condition has been diagnosed, he can continue his performance-enhancing Blood doping
without penalty, on the grounds that it is medicinal (at least until the required Thymectomy
is done and takes effect in up to 3–5 years, at which point medicinal Steroid
s may also be prescribed).
In the mean time, Stacy
's husband Mark attends therapy at the hospital. House crashes one of the sessions and gives Mark a hard time, greatly upsetting Stacy. She has an outburst in front of a patient, to House's amusement. Later, House asks her if she hates him or loves him. When Stacy replies that she does both, she tells him that her psychiatrist told her it would get better with time. The episode ends with House breaking into the hospital's psychiatrist's office, and reading Stacy's records.
plays a young male flight attendant
who comes to the clinic complaining of incessant diarrhoea upon quitting smoking
. Convinced that his problem is directly caused by the lack of cigarettes, he appears to ask House for justification to return to smoking, but House, finding that the young man has chewed sugarless chewing gum
constantly (six packs daily) since he quit smoking, attributes the diarrhoea to the laxative properties of the sorbitol
used to sweeten the gum.
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
, which premiered on the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
network on November 15, 2005.
Plot
A famous cyclist named Jeff (played by Kristoffer PolahaKristoffer Polaha
Kristoffer Caleb "Kris" Polaha is an American film and television actor who starred on the Fox TV series North Shore. He recently played Nathaniel "Baze" Bazile on the CW series Life Unexpected....
) who wants to race in the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
is brought to House's clinic after collapsing during a race and being treated at the scene by medics. He is surprisingly honest about several illegal medications and techniques he applied to himself, but his sickness is not caused by any of these. House believes he is not completely honest, whilst Cameron does not cope well with Jeff's foul play.
In the course of making a diagnosis the team deduced the presence of an air-embolus. When the air-embolism was found and removed, without helping his symptoms followed by system-wide muscle weakness, Encephalitis
Encephalitis
Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain. Encephalitis with meningitis is known as meningoencephalitis. Symptoms include headache, fever, confusion, drowsiness, and fatigue...
or nerve-damage or paraneoplastic symptomatic bone cancer is differentiated, none of which is confirmed. Then and throughout most of the episode, House is convinced he is taking animal cultured Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...
(short half-life EPO) which acts by binding to a specific erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) on the surface of red cell precursors in the bone marrow, stimulating them to transform into mature red blood cells. As a result the oxygen level in blood reaching the kidney rises and the amount of EPO produced naturally decreases, thus presumably causing all of Jeff's symptoms as he fails to produce red blood cells on his own (Anemia
Anemia
Anemia is a decrease in number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. However, it can include decreased oxygen-binding ability of each hemoglobin molecule due to deformity or lack in numerical development as in some other types of hemoglobin...
caused by acute Acquired pure red cell aplasia
Acquired pure red cell aplasia
Pure red cell aplasia or erythroblastopenia refers to a type of anemia affecting the precursors to red blood cells but not to white blood cells. In PRCA, the bone marrow ceases to produce red blood cells...
). However, after responding to Prednisone
Prednisone
Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that is particularly effective as an immunosuppressant drug. It is used to treat certain inflammatory diseases and some types of cancer, but has significant adverse effects...
(an Immunosuppressive drug
Immunosuppressive drug
Immunosuppressive drugs or immunosuppressive agents are drugs that inhibit or prevent activity of the immune system. They are used in immunosuppressive therapy to:...
) treatment by losing more red blood cells to the point of requiring a transfusion, House instructs to go scan his neck, when a Thymoma
Thymoma
Thymoma is a tumor originating from the epithelial cells of the thymus. Thymoma is an uncommon tumor, best known for its association with the neuromuscular disorder myasthenia gravis. Thymoma is found in 15% of patients with myasthenia gravis. Once diagnosed, thymomas may be removed surgically...
is found (causing chronic PRCA
Acquired pure red cell aplasia
Pure red cell aplasia or erythroblastopenia refers to a type of anemia affecting the precursors to red blood cells but not to white blood cells. In PRCA, the bone marrow ceases to produce red blood cells...
and previously countered Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability...
). The team realizes that Jeff's illegal treatments have inadvertently been keeping the aplasia under control, and now that the condition has been diagnosed, he can continue his performance-enhancing Blood doping
Blood doping
Blood doping is the practice of boosting the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream in order to enhance athletic performance. Because such blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the muscles, a higher concentration in the blood can improve an athlete’s aerobic capacity and...
without penalty, on the grounds that it is medicinal (at least until the required Thymectomy
Thymectomy
A thymectomy is an operation to remove the thymus. It usually results in remission of myasthenia gravis with the help of medication including steroids...
is done and takes effect in up to 3–5 years, at which point medicinal Steroid
Steroid
A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...
s may also be prescribed).
In the mean time, Stacy
Stacy Warner
Stacy Warner is a fictional recurring character portrayed by Sela Ward on the Fox Broadcasting Company's medical drama House. She was in a relationship with Dr. Gregory House , when he suffered an infarction in his right leg during a game of golf...
's husband Mark attends therapy at the hospital. House crashes one of the sessions and gives Mark a hard time, greatly upsetting Stacy. She has an outburst in front of a patient, to House's amusement. Later, House asks her if she hates him or loves him. When Stacy replies that she does both, she tells him that her psychiatrist told her it would get better with time. The episode ends with House breaking into the hospital's psychiatrist's office, and reading Stacy's records.
Clinic patients
Tom LenkTom Lenk
Thomas Loren "Tom" Lenk is an American stage and television actor best known for his recurring role as Andrew Wells in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel.-Early life:...
plays a young male flight attendant
Flight attendant
Flight attendants or cabin crew are members of an aircrew employed by airlines primarily to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers aboard commercial flights, on select business jet aircraft, and on some military aircraft.-History:The role of a flight attendant derives from that of similar...
who comes to the clinic complaining of incessant diarrhoea upon quitting smoking
Smoking
Smoking is a practice in which a substance, most commonly tobacco or cannabis, is burned and the smoke is tasted or inhaled. This is primarily practised as a route of administration for recreational drug use, as combustion releases the active substances in drugs such as nicotine and makes them...
. Convinced that his problem is directly caused by the lack of cigarettes, he appears to ask House for justification to return to smoking, but House, finding that the young man has chewed sugarless chewing gum
Chewing gum
Chewing gum is a type of gum traditionally made of chicle, a natural latex product, or synthetic rubber known as polyisobutylene. For economical and quality reasons, many modern chewing gums use rubber instead of chicle...
constantly (six packs daily) since he quit smoking, attributes the diarrhoea to the laxative properties of the sorbitol
Sorbitol
Sorbitol, also known as glucitol, Sorbogem® and Sorbo®, is a sugar alcohol that the human body metabolizes slowly. It can be obtained by reduction of glucose, changing the aldehyde group to a hydroxyl group. Sorbitol is found in apples, pears, peaches, and prunes...
used to sweeten the gum.
External links
- "Spin" at Fox.com