AIDS pathology — MCQs

A 26-year-old man comes to the physician for a follow-up examination. He was diagnosed with HIV infection 2 weeks ago. His CD4+ T-lymphocyte count is 162/mm3 (N ≥ 500). An interferon-gamma release assay is negative. Prophylactic treatment against which of the following pathogens is most appropriate at this time?

A 32-year-old man comes to the physician for a follow-up examination 1 week after being admitted to the hospital for oral candidiasis and esophagitis. His CD4+ T lymphocyte count is 180 cells/μL. An HIV antibody test is positive. Genotypic resistance assay shows the virus to be susceptible to all antiretroviral therapy regimens and therapy with dolutegravir, tenofovir, and emtricitabine is initiated. Which of the following sets of laboratory findings would be most likely on follow-up evaluation 3 months later? $$$ CD4 +/CD8 ratio %%% HIV RNA %%% HIV antibody test $$$

A 52-year-old man is brought to the emergency department because of headaches, vertigo, and changes to his personality for the past few weeks. He was diagnosed with HIV 14 years ago and was started on antiretroviral therapy at that time. Medical records from one month ago indicate that he followed his medication schedule inconsistently. Since then, he has been regularly taking his antiretroviral medications and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. His vital signs are within normal limits. Neurological examination shows ataxia and apathy. Mini-Mental State Examination score is 15/30. Laboratory studies show: Hemoglobin 12.5 g/dL Leukocyte count 8400/mm3 Segmented neutrophils 80% Eosinophils 1% Lymphocytes 17% Monocytes 2% CD4+ T-lymphocytes 90/μL Platelet count 328,000/mm3 An MRI of the brain with contrast shows a solitary ring-enhancing lesion involving the corpus callosum and measuring 4.5 cm in diameter. A lumbar puncture with subsequent cerebrospinal fluid analysis shows slight pleocytosis, and PCR is positive for Epstein-Barr virus DNA. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

A physician scientist is looking for a more efficient way to treat HIV. Patients infected with HIV mount a humoral immune response by producing antibodies against the HIV envelope proteins. These antibodies are the same antibodies detected by the ELISA and western blot assays used to diagnose the disease. The physician scientist is trying to generate a new, more potent antibody against the same HIV envelope proteins targeted by the natural humoral immune response. Of the following proteins, which is the most likely target of the antibody he is designing?

A 41-year-old woman comes to the primary care physician’s office with a 7-day history of headaches, sore throat, diarrhea, fatigue, and low-grade fevers. The patient denies any significant past medical history, recent travel, or recent sick contacts. On review of systems, the patient endorses performing sex acts in exchange for money and recreational drugs over the last several months. You suspect primary HIV infection, but the patient refuses further evaluation. At a follow-up appointment 1 week later, she reports that she had been previously tested for HIV, and it was negative. Physical examination does not reveal any external abnormalities of her genitalia. Her heart and lung sounds are normal on auscultation. Her vital signs show a blood pressure of 123/82 mm Hg, heart rate of 82/min, and a respiratory rate of 16/min. Of the following options, which is the next best step in patient management?

A 44-year-old man with HIV comes to the physician for a routine follow-up examination. He has been noncompliant with his antiretroviral medication regimen for several years. He appears chronically ill and fatigued. CD4+ T-lymphocyte count is 180/mm³ (N ≥ 500). Further evaluation of this patient is most likely to show which of the following findings?

A 28-year-old G1P0 woman at 16 weeks estimated gestational age presents for prenatal care. Routine prenatal screening tests are performed and reveal a positive HIV antibody test. The patient is extremely concerned about the possible transmission of HIV to her baby and wants to have the baby tested as soon as possible after delivery. Which of the following would be the most appropriate diagnostic test to address this patient’s concern?

An investigator is studying the mechanism of HIV infection in cells obtained from a human donor. The effect of a drug that impairs viral fusion and entry is being evaluated. This drug acts on a protein that is cleaved off of a larger glycosylated protein in the endoplasmic reticulum of the host cell. The protein that is affected by the drug is most likely encoded by which of the following genes?

A 37-year-old woman presents to the occupational health clinic for a new employee health screening. She has limited medical records prior to her immigration to the United States several years ago. She denies any current illness or significant medical history. Purified protein derivative (PPD) is injected on the inside of her left forearm for tuberculosis (TB) screening. Approximately 36 hours later, the patient comes back to the occupational health clinic and has an indurated lesion with bordering erythema measuring 15 mm in diameter at the site of PPD injection. Of the following options, which is the mechanism of her reaction?

A 15-year-old girl comes to the physician because of a sore throat and subjective fevers for the past 2 weeks. She has been feeling lethargic and is unable to attend school. She has a history of multiple episodes of streptococcal pharyngitis treated with amoxicillin. She immigrated with her family to the United States from China 10 years ago. She appears thin. Her temperature is 37.8°C (100°F), pulse is 97/min, and blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg. Examination shows pharyngeal erythema and enlarged tonsils with exudates and palatal petechiae. There is cervical lymphadenopathy. The spleen is palpated 2 cm below the left costal margin. Her hemoglobin concentration is 12 g/dL, leukocyte count is 14,100/mm3 with 54% lymphocytes (12% atypical lymphocytes), and platelet count is 280,000/mm3. A heterophile agglutination test is positive. The underlying cause of this patient's symptoms is most likely to increase the risk of which of the following conditions?