Cardiology — MCQs

A 22-year-old woman is brought to the physician by her husband because of a gradual 20-kg (45-lb) weight loss and recurrent episodes of vomiting without diarrhea over the past 2 years. Her last menstrual period was 6 months ago. On physical examination, she appears fatigued and emaciated, and there is bilateral swelling of the retromandibular fossa. Laboratory studies show hypokalemia and a hemoglobin concentration of 8 g/dL. Which of the following additional findings is most likely in this patient?

A 54-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after having been hit by a car while riding his bicycle. He was not wearing a helmet. Despite appropriate life-saving measures, he dies 2 hours later because of a severe intracranial hemorrhage. Autopsy of the heart shows general thickening of the left ventricular wall with narrowing of the ventricular chamber. Which of the following conditions is the most likely underlying cause of the described cardiac changes?

A 39-year-old female with poorly controlled systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presents to the emergency room with a cough and pleuritic chest pain. She states that she developed these symptoms 2 days prior. The pain appears to improve when the patient leans forward. She currently takes hydroxychloroquine for her systemic lupus erythematosus but has missed several doses recently. Her temperature is 99°F (37.2°C), blood pressure is 135/80 mmHg, pulse is 115/min, and respirations are 22/min. Physical examination reveals a rise in jugular venous pressure during inspiration. In addition to tachycardia, which of the following EKG patterns is most likely to be seen in this patient?

A 55-year-old man presents to the internal medicine clinic with complaints of numbness and tingling in his fingers that he first noticed 6 months ago. It has been progressively worsening and has reached the point where it is affecting his normal daily activities, such as brushing his teeth. His past medical history is significant for sinusitis and allergic rhinitis since the age of 18, as well as episodic wheezing and shortness of breath since he was 30. He was diagnosed with asthma when he was 22 years old, and subsequently with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) when he was 40. His current medications include albuterol, loratadine, mometasone, and omeprazole. His blood pressure is 128/86 mm Hg, heart rate is 78/min, and respiratory rate is 16/min. On physical exam, the patient’s skin is mottled and appears to have a diffuse, lace-like, erythematous discoloration of the arms, legs, and trunk. There is also a small papular rash on his right forearm. Bilateral wheezes are heard on auscultation. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A 42-year-old man presents to his dermatologist with a rash on the extensor surfaces of his elbows and knees which has occurred episodically ever since he was a teenager. The patient was recently diagnosed with essential hypertension and was prescribed lisinopril by his primary care physician. The vital signs include: temperature 36.7°C (98.0°F), blood pressure 128/91 mm Hg, and heart rate 82/min. The physical examination reveals sharply demarcated, erythematous plaques with silvery-white scales on the back of his elbows and front of his knees. He has less than 3% of the total body surface area affected. Which of the following is the best initial therapy for this patient’s condition?

A 72-year-old man comes to the emergency department because of severe, acute, right leg pain for 2 hours. The patient's symptoms started suddenly while he was doing household chores. He has no history of leg pain at rest or with exertion. Yesterday, he returned home after a 6-hour bus ride from his grandson's home. He has hypertension treated with ramipril. He appears uncomfortable. His temperature is 37.4°C (99.3°F), pulse is 105/min and irregular, and blood pressure is 146/92 mm Hg. The right lower extremity is cool and tender to touch. A photograph of the limb is shown. Femoral pulses are palpable bilaterally; popliteal and pedal pulses are decreased on the right side. Sensation to pinprick and light touch and muscle strength are decreased in the right lower extremity. Which of the following is most likely to confirm the underlying source of this patient's condition?

A 55-year-old man presents to his primary care physician for a wellness checkup. He states that he generally feels well and has no complaints at this time. The patient consumes alcohol frequently, eats a high sodium diet, and is sedentary. His temperature is 97.5°F (36.4°C), blood pressure is 167/108 mmHg, pulse is 90/min, respirations are 15/min, and oxygen saturation is 99% on room air. The patient is 5'10" tall and weighs 220 lbs (BMI 31.5 kg/m²). The patient's blood pressure at his last 2 appointments were 159/100 mmHg and 162/99 mmHg, respectively. His physician wants to intervene to manage his blood pressure. Which of the following is the most effective lifestyle intervention for this patient's hypertension?

A 38-year-old woman is referred to a cardiologist for evaluation of syncope. Over the past year she has experienced 2 syncopal events. The first event occurred while she was standing, and the second when she laid down on her side. She denies bowel or bladder incontinence during the episodes or palpitations. However, she reports the presence of a low-grade fever over the past 3 months and a recent visit to the emergency department for a transient ischemic attack. She has a history of intravenous drug use but reports not having used in over 5 years. Temperature is 100.0°F (37.8°C), blood pressure is 115/72 mmHg, pulse is 90/min, and respirations are 20/min and regular. A detailed neurologic examination reveals no focal deficits. Cardiac auscultation demonstrates a diastolic "plop" at the cardiac apex. Which of the following findings will most likely be demonstrated on transthoracic echocardiography?

A 27-year-old woman presents to her primary care physician because of headaches that she has had over the last three weeks. She has not had any significant past medical history though she does recall that various types of cancer run in her family. She has also noticed that she has been gaining some weight, and her feet no longer fit into her favorite shoes. On presentation, her temperature is 98.6°F (37°C), blood pressure is 159/92 mmHg, pulse is 75/min, and respirations are 16/min. Physical exam reveals 1+ edema in her lower extremities bilaterally. She is placed on captopril and presents to the emergency department two weeks later after a minor motor vehicle accident. She is cleared of any serious injuries, and as part of her workup, labs are drawn with the following results: BUN: 47 mg/dL Creatinine: 1.4 mg/dL Which of the following findings would most likely also be seen in this patient?

A 33-year-old man presents with his recent laboratory results. He has no symptoms currently, but he underwent a medical evaluation as a requirement for taking up a new job. His medical history is not significant. His laboratory reports are as follows: Blood hemoglobin 13.7 g/dL Leukocyte count 8,000/mm3 Platelet count 350,000/mm3 Serum creatinine 0.8 mg/dL Serum alanine aminotransferase 16 U/L Serum aspartate aminotransferase 14 U/L Serum cholesterol 450 mg/dL Serum triglyceride 790 mg/dL Serum LDL cholesterol 150 mg/dL Serum HDL cholesterol 55 mg/dL Which of the following findings is most likely to be present on physical examination of this patient?