Mrs. Carpenter is a 59-year-old female who presents with an acute myocardial infarction. She is acutely short of breath and has coarse rales on auscultation. Physical examination reveals a grade VVI systolic murmur, loudest at the point of maximal impulse with radiation to the midaxillary line. The AGACP recognizes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Acute mitral valve regurgitation. The presence of a grade VVI systolic murmur that radiates to the midaxillary line suggests mitral valve involvement. Mitral regurgitation leads to acute onset of symptoms such as dyspnea and pulmonary congestion, indicated by coarse rales on auscultation. The murmur is loudest at the point of maximal impulse due to eccentric regurgitation jet. Acute aortic valve regurgitation (B) typically presents with a diastolic murmur. Acute cardiac tamponade (C) would present with Beck's triad and pulsus paradoxus. Acute pulmonary embolus (D) would present with sudden onset dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain.