Cardiomyopathies — MCQs

A 43-year-old woman presents to her primary care provider with shortness of breath. She reports a 4-month history of progressively worsening difficulty breathing with associated occasional chest pain. She is a long-distance runner but has had trouble running recently due to her breathing difficulties. Her past medical history is notable for well-controlled hypertension for which she takes hydrochlorothiazide. She had a tibial osteosarcoma lesion with pulmonary metastases as a child and successfully underwent chemotherapy and surgical resection. She has a 10 pack-year smoking history but quit 15 years ago. She drinks a glass of wine 3 times per week. Her temperature is 98.6°F (37°C), blood pressure is 140/85 mmHg, pulse is 82/min, and respirations are 18/min. On exam, she has increased work of breathing with a normal S1 and loud P2. An echocardiogram in this patient would most likely reveal which of the following?

A 45-year-old African American woman presents to her family physician for a routine examination. Past medical history is positive for amyloidosis and non-rhythm-based cardiac abnormalities secondary to the amyloidosis. Which of the following cardiac parameters would be expected in this patient?

A 27-year-old woman comes to the physician because of a 1-year history of progressive shortness of breath. She is now unable to jog for more than 10 minutes without stopping to catch her breath. Cardiac examination shows a harsh systolic, crescendo-decrescendo murmur best heard at the lower left sternal border. The murmur increases in intensity when she moves from a squatting to a standing position and decreases when she clenches her fists. The lungs are clear to auscultation. Which of the following is the most likely cause of her condition?

A 14-year-old boy who has been otherwise healthy presents to his doctor complaining of feeling easily winded and light-headed at basketball practice. He has never felt this way before and is frustrated because he is good enough to make varsity this year. He denies smoking, alcohol, or recreational drug use. His mother is very worried because her oldest son and brother had both died suddenly while playing sports despite being otherwise healthy. The transthoracic echocardiogram confirms the suspected diagnosis, which demonstrates a preserved ejection fraction and systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve. The patient is advised that he will need to stay hydrated and avoid intense exercise, and he will likely need an ICD due to his family history. Which of the following physical exam findings is consistent with this patient’s most likely diagnosis?

A 54-year-old woman presents to the emergency ward with a chief complaint of chest pain. The pain is sharp and present in the anterior part of the chest. There is no radiation of the pain; however, the intensity is decreased while sitting and leaning forward. There is no associated shortness of breath. Vital signs are the following: blood pressure is 132/84 mm Hg; pulse rate is 82/min, rhythmic, and regular. Lungs are clear on auscultation and cardiovascular examination demonstrates scratchy and squeaking sounds at the left sternal border. Kussmaul sign is positive and ECG shows new widespread ST segment elevation and PR depression. The most likely cause for these findings in this patient is?

A 38-year-old woman comes to the physician because of frequent headaches and blurring of vision. She also complains of weight gain, menstrual irregularities, and excessive growth of body hair. She says that, for the first time since she turned 18, her shoe and ring sizes have increased, and also complains that her voice has become hoarser. She does not smoke or drink alcohol. She takes no medications. Vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination shows prominent frontal bossing, a protuberant mandible with spaces between the teeth, and large hands and feet. Serum studies show: Na+ 140 mEq/L Cl− 102 mEq/L K+ 4.1 mEq/L Ca2+ 10.6 mg/dL Phosphorus 4.7 mg/dL Glucose 180 mg/dL Which of the following is the most likely sequela of this patient's condition?

A 14-year-old girl is brought to the physician for a follow-up examination. She has had frequent falls over the past two years. During the past six months, the patient has been unable to walk or stand without assistance and she now uses a wheelchair. Her mother was diagnosed with a vestibular schwannoma at age 52. Her vital signs are within normal limits. Her speech is slow and unclear. Neurological examination shows nystagmus in both eyes. Her gait is wide-based with irregular and uneven steps. Her proprioception and vibration sense are absent. Muscle strength is decreased especially in the lower extremities. Deep tendon reflexes are 1+ bilaterally. The remainder of the examination shows kyphoscoliosis and foot inversion with hammer toes. This patient is most likely to die from which of the following complications?

A previously healthy 19-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by his girlfriend after briefly losing consciousness. He passed out while moving furniture into her apartment. She said that he was unresponsive for a minute but regained consciousness and was not confused. The patient did not have any chest pain, palpitations, or difficulty breathing before or after the episode. He has had episodes of dizziness when exercising at the gym. His blood pressure is 125/75 mm Hg while supine and 120/70 mm Hg while standing. Pulse is 70/min while supine and 75/min while standing. On examination, there is a grade 3/6 systolic murmur at the left lower sternal border and a systolic murmur at the apex, both of which disappear with passive leg elevation. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

A 34-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 2, is admitted to the hospital because of shortness of breath and fatigue 2 weeks after delivery of a full-term female newborn. She has no history of major medical illness. Cardiac examination on admission shows an S3 gallop and a grade 2/6 holosystolic murmur heard best at the apex. Treatment is initiated with intravenous furosemide and captopril. Her symptoms resolve, and 3 weeks later, cardiac examination shows no murmur. Which of the following is the most likely explanation for the initial auscultation findings?

An 80-year-old African American male presents complaining of worsening shortness of breath that occurs during his weekly round of golf. He also notes he has been waking up at night "choking and gasping for air", though he has been able to gain some relief by propping his head on a stack of pillows before he goes to bed. Upon auscultation, a low frequency, early diastolic gallop is heard over the apex while the patient rests in the left lateral decubitus position. This finding is most consistent with which of the following?