The central mystery of the episode. A woman presents with seizure, retinal vein occlusion, cardiac arrest, kidney problems, and lung cysts. Eventually diagnosed as Sjögren's syndrome causing multiple systemic complications including lack of tear/saliva production, lung cysts, and renal tubular acidosis.
Also known as: Seizure
Initial presenting symptom that brings the patient to the hospital. Initially attributed to dehydration and drug use but ultimately part of the broader Sjögren's syndrome presentation.
Also known as: Heart stopped
The patient experiences cardiac arrest requiring defibrillation. This symptom escalates the case from a simple seizure to a multi-system problem.
Also known as: RTA
Incorrectly diagnosed as the primary condition causing kidney calcifications and low potassium. Patient undergoes surgery to remove calcifications before the team realizes this is a complication of Sjögren's syndrome.
Also known as: Collapsed lung
A lung cyst ruptures during the methacholine challenge test, causing lung collapse. Thirteen recognizes the problem and re-inflates the lung.
Also known as: Fungal infection
Opportunistic fungal infection in the mouth caused by lack of saliva from Sjögren's syndrome. This same infection affects Thirteen due to her asthma inhaler use, providing a diagnostic clue.
Also known as: Huntington's disease
Thirteen's ongoing terminal diagnosis drives her destructive behavior throughout the episode including drug use, promiscuous sex, and self-destructive choices. Foreman confronts her about her CAG test results showing she has less time than expected.
Thirteen's childhood asthma has returned since moving to a new apartment. Her inhaler use causes the same fungal mouth infection as the patient, providing the key diagnostic clue.