Systemic Pathology — MCQs

A 7-year-old girl is brought to the emergency department because she has had abdominal pain and vomiting for the past day. The pain is intermittent, diffuse in nature, and worse after meals. She does not have loose or bloody stools. She has had a nonpruritic rash on her legs and swelling of her ankles for 6 days. She was treated with oral amoxicillin for a sore throat 2 weeks ago. Her immunizations are up-to-date. Vital signs are within normal limits. Examination of the lower extremities shows non-blanching, raised erythematous papules. The left ankle joint is swollen and warm, and its range of motion is limited by pain. Abdominal examination shows tenderness to palpation in the left lower quadrant without guarding or rebound. Bowel sounds are normal. Test of the stool for occult blood is positive. Laboratory studies show: Hemoglobin 10.1 g/dL Leukocyte count 11,800/mm3 Platelet count 431,000/mm3 Erythrocyte sedimentation rate 45 mm/h Serum Glucose 72 mg/dL Creatinine 0.9 mg/dL Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 28-year-old woman at 36 weeks gestation presents with severe headache, epigastric pain, and visual disturbances. Her blood pressure is 160/110 mmHg. Laboratory studies show a hematocrit of 32%, leukocyte count of 9,400/mm³, and platelet count of 96,000/mm³. Serum studies reveal an aspartate aminotransferase of 94 U/L and an alanine aminotransferase of 92 U/L. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's condition?

A 16-month-old girl presents for a routine examination. The patient’s mother says that the child is craving ice and often gasps for breath while walking or playing. Family history is unremarkable. The patient is afebrile, and vital signs are within normal limits. Her weight is at the 20th percentile and height is at the 35th percentile for age and sex. Conjunctival pallor is noted on physical examination. Laboratory findings are significant for the following: Hemoglobin 9.2 g/dL Mean corpuscular volume 72 μm3 Mean corpuscular hemoglobin 21 pg/cell Serum ferritin 9 ng/mL Red cell distribution width 16% (ref: 11.5–14.5%) Which of the following additional laboratory findings would most likely be found in this patient?

A 23-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by ambulance. The patient was found unconscious in his bedroom after a suicide attempt. The patient had cut his wrists using a kitchen knife. The patient is unresponsive and pale. His temperature is 96°F (35.6°C), blood pressure is 70/35 mmHg, pulse is 190/min, respirations are 19/min, and oxygen saturation is 92% on room air. Pressure is applied to his bilateral wrist lacerations. His Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is 7. A full trauma assessment is performed and reveals no other injuries. IV fluids are started as well as a rapid transfusion sequence. Norepinephrine is administered. Repeat vitals demonstrate that his blood pressure is 100/65 mmHg and pulse is 100/min. The patient is responsive and seems mildly confused. Resuscitation is continued and the patient's GCS improves to 15. Thirty minutes later, the patient's GCS is 11. His temperature is 103°F (39.4°C), blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg, pulse is 122/min, respirations are 22/min, and oxygen saturation is 99% on room air. The patient complains of flank pain. Laboratory values are ordered and demonstrate the following: Hemoglobin: 9 g/dL Hematocrit: 27% Leukocyte count: 10,500 cells/mm^3 with normal differential Haptoglobin: 11 mg/dL Platelet count: 198,000/mm^3 Serum: Na+: 139 mEq/L Cl-: 101 mEq/L K+: 4.4 mEq/L HCO3-: 23 mEq/L BUN: 27 mg/dL Glucose: 99 mg/dL Creatinine: 1.5 mg/dL Ca2+: 10.0 mg/dL Bilirubin: 3.2 mg/dL AST: 22 U/L ALT: 15 U/L Which of the following describes the most likely diagnosis?

A 66-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 1-week history of pruritic blister formation. Physical examination shows multiple 1–3 cm bullae on the palms, soles, lower legs, and inguinal folds. Gentle rubbing of the skin does not result in sloughing of the epidermis. Immunofluorescence studies of a perilesional skin biopsy specimen are most likely to show deposition of antibodies in which of the following areas?

A 52-year-old woman presents to the clinic complaining of dry mouth for the past 2 months. The patient states that she drinks a lot of water but that her mouth is always dry. She says that she recently went to the dentist and had 3 cavities, which is more than she has ever had in her adult life. She has a history of type 2 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Her vital signs are within normal limits. Her physical exam is unremarkable except that her sclera are dry and erythematous and she has a deformity in the joints of her hands, bilaterally. What is the etiology of this patient’s symptoms?

A 69-year-old man presents to the urgent care clinic with a history of hypertension and a variety of systemic complaints including fatigue, occasional fever, abdominal pain, and diffuse palpable, pruritic eruptions over his lower extremities. He is currently unemployed. His medical history is significant for gout, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus type II, HIV, and hepatitis C. He currently smokes 2 packs of cigarettes per day, drinks a 6-pack of beer per day, and endorses a history of injection drug use in the past with heroin but currently denies any drug use. His vital signs include: temperature 40.0°C (104.0°F), blood pressure 126/74 mm Hg, heart rate 111/min, and respiratory rate 23/min. On physical examination, the patient has motor weakness on dorsiflexion. Laboratory analysis shows an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, elevated C-reactive protein, and proteinuria, increasing your suspicion of polyarteritis nodosa. Of the following options, which is the reaction mechanism that underlies polyarteritis nodosa?

A 32-year-old Caucasian female required a kidney transplant 3 years ago. She presents with elevated creatinine levels (2.6 mg/dl) and an elevated blood pressure (160/90 mmHg). A biopsy is taken of the transplanted kidney. Following histological findings, a diagnosis of chronic graft rejection is made. Which of the following is NOT a likely finding?

A 55-year-old woman presents with pain in both hands and wrists for several years. It is associated with morning stiffness that lasts for almost an hour. She has a blood pressure of 124/76 mm Hg, heart rate of 71/min, and respiratory rate of 14/min. Physical examination reveals tenderness and swelling in both hands and wrists. Laboratory investigations reveal the presence of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide. Which of the following immune-mediated processes is responsible for this patient’s condition?

A 26-year-old African-American woman presents to the clinic for a routine check-up. Review of systems reveals that she often feels nervous and has recently developed a slight tremor. Of note, she has lost 15 pounds in the past 3 months, despite an increased appetite. The patient’s temperature is 99°F (37.2°C), blood pressure is 130/78 mmHg, pulse is 85/min, and respirations are 14/min with an oxygen saturation of 98% on room air. On physical exam, her skin is warm and she has mild exophthalmos. Which of the following is the direct mechanism causing the patient's ophthalmologic findings?