Cardiology and Hematology Review

A patient presents with end-stage renal disease and severely elevated potassium levels unresponsive to conventional treatments. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

Which of the following represents the best initial treatment strategy for a patient diagnosed with stage 1 chronic kidney disease accompanied by proteinuria?

Analysis of a patient's kidney stone reveals that it is primarily composed of which of the following, representing the most common cause of nephrolithiasis?

A 45-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus develops new onset proteinuria and hematuria. Which of the following renal conditions is most likely?

In a patient with chronic kidney disease, which of the following clinical findings is the clearest indication for initiating dialysis?

Which of the following etiologies is the most common culprit behind nephrogenic diabetes insipidus?

A 25-year-old female with recurrent UTIs presents with hematuria. Urinalysis reveals RBC casts. What is the most likely underlying cause?

Which of the following metabolic derangements is a well-recognized complication of nephrotic syndrome?

A patient's lab results indicate elevated levels of homocysteine and methylmalonic acid. Which condition does this most likely suggest?

A hematologist is reviewing a patient's bone marrow sample and identifies the Philadelphia chromosome. Which hematologic malignancy is most closely associated with this genetic abnormality?

A doctor notices a sharp drop in a hospitalized patient's platelet count after the administration of heparin. What condition should the doctor suspect?

A patient presents with bone pain, elevated calcium levels, and impaired kidney function. Further testing reveals an M-protein spike. Which condition is most likely?

Genetic testing confirms a mutation leading to excessive iron absorption in a patient. What is the most probable primary cause of their iron overload?

A 55-year-old male with a history of excessive alcohol consumption exhibits bleeding gums and a low platelet count. How does cirrhosis contribute to thrombocytopenia in this patient?

A patient is diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Which of the following is a key characteristic that differentiates MDS from other bone marrow disorders?

Which of the following factors associated with increased deep vein thrombosis (DVT) risk is most directly linked to impaired venous return?

A patient presents with a chronic cough and sputum production for at least three months of the year for two consecutive years. Which condition is the most likely diagnosis?

Which pulmonary function test finding is most indicative of asthma?

A 60-year-old patient with a history of heavy smoking presents with new onset hemoptysis, unexplained weight loss and a persistent cough. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

What is the most common causative organism in community-acquired pneumonia?

A patient with known asthma experiences acute shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness following exposure to cat dander. What is the MOST appropriate initial treatment?

Which of the following is the strongest risk factor for the development of pulmonary embolism?

A 65-year-old patient with a 45-pack-year smoking history presents with progressive dyspnea on exertion. Examination reveals a barrel chest and decreased breath sounds bilaterally. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

For acute exacerbations of COPD, which intervention is most important to improve airflow and oxygenation?

A patient's chest X-ray reveals a mass located in the apex of the lung. While other conditions are possible, what primary diagnosis should be considered?

Which histological type of lung cancer is most frequently observed in individuals who have never smoked?

A 50-year-old woman with a history of asthma reports increased difficulty breathing and wheezing. Which action is the most appropriate initial step in her management?

A patient experiences a sudden onset of sharp chest pain that intensifies with inspiration. Physical examination reveals tenderness over the rib cage. Which condition is the most likely cause?

A 40-year-old male with chronic asthma experiences progressively worsening dyspnea, cough, and wheezing. What is the most probable underlying cause?

A 25-year-old woman presents with a persistent dry cough and malaise after a recent visit to a farm. Which condition should be prioritized in the differential diagnosis?

A 65-year-old male with a history of smoking and COPD presents with a new productive cough, fever, and pleuritic chest pain. A chest X-ray shows consolidation in the lower lobe. What is the most likely diagnosis?

What pulmonary function test finding is typically observed in a patient with restrictive lung disease, reflecting the reduced lung volume?

A patient's chest X-ray reveals a cavitary lesion in the upper lobe. While tuberculosis is a primary concern, what other condition can present with similar radiographic findings and should be considered in the differential diagnosis?

A patient develops pneumonia 48 hours after being admitted to the hospital. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common cause; however, what patient-related risk factor most significantly increases the likelihood of this specific infection over other hospital-acquired pneumonias?

Polysomnography is the primary diagnostic test for obstructive sleep apnea. Beyond identifying apneas, what crucial information does polysomnography provide that is essential for determining the severity and guiding treatment?

A 35-year-old woman presents with a non-productive cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath, with a history of exposure to bird droppings, suggesting hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). What is the most important next step in management after suspecting HP?

A patient with emphysema shows a flattened diaphragm on a chest X-ray. What physiological change directly leads to this radiographic finding?

A patient with COPD presents with worsening dyspnea, increased sputum production, and purulent sputum, indicating a respiratory infection as the likely cause of acute exacerbation. Besides antibiotics, what is another crucial component in managing this acute exacerbation of COPD?

Digital clubbing is a common finding in patients with chronic pulmonary fibrosis. What pathophysiological mechanism is thought to be the primary cause of digital clubbing in this condition?

Rifampin and isoniazid are first-line treatments for active tuberculosis. What is a critical counseling point to emphasize to patients starting this regimen to minimize adverse effects?

A 35-year-old man presents with a high fever, night sweats, and a productive cough with blood-streaked sputum for the past month. A chest X-ray shows upper lobe cavitary lesions. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial test for diagnosis?

A 27-year-old woman presents with fever, headache, and a stiff neck. Lumbar puncture reveals an elevated white blood cell count, increased protein, and decreased glucose in cerebrospinal fluid. Which of the following is the most common cause of her condition in adults?

A 40-year-old man with poorly controlled diabetes presents with a rapidly spreading infection of the soft tissue in his leg, associated with crepitus and foul-smelling discharge. What is the most likely causative organism?

A patient with HIV presents with progressive confusion, focal neurological deficits, and seizures. MRI reveals multiple ring-enhancing lesions in the brain. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 28-year-old woman presents with fever, malaise, pharyngitis, and posterior cervical lymphadenopathy. Monospot test is positive. Which of the following complications is most concerning in this patient?

A 55-year-old male presents with sudden-onset high fever, hypotension, and purpura. He recently had a splenectomy after a motor vehicle accident. Blood cultures grow an encapsulated Gram-negative diplococcus. Which of the following pathogens is most likely responsible?

A patient presents with severe watery diarrhea after returning from a trip to South America. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

An elderly patient in a nursing home develops a cough, fever, and pleuritic chest pain. A chest X-ray shows a right lower lobe consolidation. Sputum Gram stain reveals Gram-positive cocci in pairs. What is the most likely causative organism?