Liver disease — MCQs

A 27-year-old man with an unknown past medical history is brought to the emergency department acutely intoxicated. The patient was found passed out in a park covered in vomit and urine. His temperature is 99.0°F (37.2°C), blood pressure is 107/68 mm Hg, pulse is 120/min, respiratory rate is 13/min, and oxygen saturation is 95% on room air. Physical exam is notable for wheezing in all lung fields without any crackles. The patient is started on 2L/min nasal cannula oxygen and IV fluids. His laboratory values are notable for an AST of 200 U/L and an ALT of 100 U/L. An initial chest radiograph is unremarkable. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for this patient's pulmonary symptoms?

A 48-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 6-month history of excessive fatigue and a 1-month history of progressively increasing generalized pruritus. She has hypothyroidism, for which she receives thyroid replacement therapy. Physical examination shows jaundice. The liver is palpated 4 cm below the right costal margin. Serum studies show a direct bilirubin concentration of 2.9 mg/dL, alkaline phosphatase activity of 580 U/L, and increased titers of antimitochondrial antibodies and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's condition?

A 53-year-old man comes to the physician because of a 3-month history of a nonpruritic rash, fatigue, and decreased urination. Physical examination shows multiple erythematous, purpuric papules on his trunk and extremities that do not blanch when pressed. Serum creatinine is elevated and urinalysis shows red blood cell casts and protein. Serum complement levels are decreased. Renal biopsy shows subendothelial immune complex deposits with granular immunofluorescence and tram-track basement membrane splitting. Further laboratory evaluation of this patient is most likely to show the presence of which of the following antibodies?

A 45-year-old homeless man is brought to the emergency department. He was found unconscious at the park. The patient has a past medical history of IV drug abuse, hepatitis C, alcohol abuse, schizophrenia, and depression. He does not receive normal medical follow up or care. His temperature is 102°F (38.9°C), blood pressure is 97/68 mmHg, pulse is 120/min, respirations are 22/min, and oxygen saturation is 98% on room air. Physical exam demonstrates a diffusely distended abdomen that is dull to percussion with a notable fluid wave. The abdominal exam causes the patient to contract his extremities. Cardiac and pulmonary exam are within normal limits. The patient responds to painful stimuli and smells heavily of alcohol. Which of the following is the best next step in management?

A 55-year-old patient who immigrated from the Middle East to the United States 10 years ago presents to the emergency department because of excessive weakness, abdominal discomfort, and weight loss for the past 10 months. He has had type 2 diabetes mellitus for 10 years for which he takes metformin. He had an appendectomy 12 years ago in his home country, and his postoperative course was not complicated. He denies smoking and drinks alcohol socially. His blood pressure is 110/70 mm Hg, pulse is 75/min, and temperature is 37.1°C (98.7°F). On physical examination, the patient appears exhausted, and his sclerae are yellowish. A firm mass is palpated in the right upper abdominal quadrant. Abdominal ultrasonography shows liver surface nodularity, splenomegaly, and increased diameter of the portal vein. Which of the following is the most common complication of this patient condition?

A 60-year-old rock musician presents to the office because he has been feeling increasingly tired for the past 6 months. He has a history of intravenous drug use and alcohol abuse. He states that he feels quite tired, but he otherwise has no complaints. Physical examination is noncontributory. His laboratory values are normal other than moderately elevated liver enzymes. Which of the following additional tests should you order first?

A 36-year-old woman presents for a pre-employment health assessment. She has no complaints. Her last annual physical examination 8 months ago was normal. She has no significant past medical history. She is a nonsmoker and says she quit all alcohol consumption last year. A complete hepatic biochemistry panel is performed, which is significant for a serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level 5 times the upper limit of the normal range. Immunologic tests are positive for antimitochondrial antibodies. A liver biopsy is performed and reveals an inflammatory infiltrate surrounding the biliary ducts. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis in this patient?

A 52-year-old man comes to the emergency department because of a 3-week history of abdominal distention, yellow coloring of the skin, and dark urine. He also reports malaise and progressive shortness of breath, associated with slight exertion, for several weeks. The patient is a chronic drinker, and he was diagnosed with cirrhosis 2 years ago. He was warned to stop drinking alcohol, but he continues to drink. He hasn't accepted any more testing and has refused to visit the doctor until now. His vital signs are heart rate 62/min, respiratory rate 26/min, temperature 37.4°C (99.3°F), and blood pressure 117/95 mm Hg. On physical examination, there is dyspnea and polypnea. Skin and sclera are jaundiced. The abdomen has visible collateral circulation and looks distended. There is diffuse abdominal pain upon palpation in the right hemiabdomen, and the liver is palpated 10 cm below the right costal border. The legs show significant edema. CT scan shows cirrhosis with portal hypertension and collateral circulation. During the fifth day of his hospital stay, the patient presents with oliguria and altered mental status. Laboratory studies show: Day 1 Day 5 Hemoglobin 12.1 g/dL 11.2 g/dL Hematocrit 33.3% 31.4% Leukocyte count 7,000/mm3 6,880/mm3 Platelet count 220,000/mm3 134,000/mm3 Total bilirubin 20.4 mg/dL 28.0 mg/dL Direct bilirubin 12.6 mg/dL 21.7 mg/dL Creatinine 2.2 mg/dL 2.9 mg/dL Albumin 3.4 g/dL 2.6 g/dL PT 15 s 16.9 s aPTT 19 s 35 s Urinalysis Negative for nitrite Negative for leukocyte esterase 0–2 RBCs per high power field 0–1 WBC per high power field No evidence of casts or proteinuria What is the most likely cause of this patient's increased creatinine?

A 46-year-old woman presents to her primary care provider for itching. She reports that she has always had dry skin but that the itching has gotten significantly worse over the last few years. The patient also endorses fatigue and dull abdominal pain. Her past medical history includes Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, mitral valve prolapse, and osteoarthritis. She takes levothyroxine and ibuprofen for pain in her knees. The patient drinks 2-3 beers per week. She has a 10 pack-year smoking history but quit 15 years ago. She denies any family history of cancer. On physical exam, her sclera are anicteric. Her abdomen is soft and tender to palpation in the right upper quadrant. Her bowel sounds are normal and hepatomegaly is present. A right upper quadrant ultrasound shows no evidence of extrahepatic biliary dilation. Laboratory studies are performed which reveal the following: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST): 76 U/L Alanine aminotransferase (ALT): 57 U/L Alkaline phosphatase: 574 U/L Total bilirubin: 1.6 mg/dL This patient is most likely to have which of the following additional findings?

A previously healthy 29-year-old African-American male comes to the physician with a 2-week history of progressive fatigue and shortness of breath on exertion. Last week he noticed that his eyes were gradually turning yellow and his urine was dark. He has a family history of type II diabetes. He denies changes in urinary frequency, dysuria, or nocturia. His temperature is 37°C (98.6° F), blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg, and heart rate is 80/min. Examination shows pale conjunctivae, splenomegaly, and jaundice. There is no lymphadenopathy. Laboratory studies show: Hematocrit 19.5% Hemoglobin 6.5 g/dL WBC count 11,000/mm3 Platelet count 300,000/mm3 Reticulocyte count 8% Serum Total bilirubin 6 mg/dL Direct bilirubin 1.0 mg/dL Urea nitrogen 9 mg/dL Creatinine 1 mg/dL Lactate dehydrogenase 365 U/L Peripheral blood smear shows gross polychromasia with nucleated red blood cells and spherocytes. Direct Coombs' test is positive. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?