A patient taking a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) consumes aged cheese and red wine, leading to a hypertensive crisis. This 'cheese reaction' is caused by the accumulation of which substance?
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Correct answer: Tyramine
MAOIs prevent the breakdown of dietary tyramine in the gut and liver. Elevated tyramine levels cause a massive release of stored norepinephrine from sympathetic nerve terminals, leading to severe vasoconstriction and a dangerous rise in blood pressure.
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