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A 28-year-old woman at 34 weeks of gestation presents with elevated liver enzymes and pruritus. Labs reveal total bilirubin to be 4.2 mg/dL, AST 480 U/L, ALT 640 U/L, and alkaline phosphatase 232 U/L. Viral hepatitis serologies and ANA are negative. On physical examination, she is jaundiced, but has a normal blood pressure, no edema, and a soft abdomen. The fetus is in no distress. Which of the following is true?
- A. The baby should be delivered immediately
- B. Symptoms will resolve promptly after delivery
- C. There is little risk of recurrence with subsequent pregnancies
- D. The mother should be screened for long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) deficiency
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Symptoms will resolve promptly after delivery. The presentation of elevated liver enzymes, pruritus, and jaundice in a pregnant woman at 34 weeks with no signs of severe preeclampsia suggests cholestasis of pregnancy. This condition typically resolves after delivery. The absence of fetal distress and normal maternal blood pressure indicate that immediate delivery is not necessary. There is a risk of recurrence in subsequent pregnancies, so choice C is incorrect. Screening for LCHAD deficiency is not indicated in this scenario, as the presentation is more consistent with cholestasis of pregnancy.
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A 34-year-old woman presents with intermittent abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. She notes that her symptoms improve with fasting. She has a history of iron deficiency anemia. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- A. Irritable bowel syndrome
- B. Celiac disease
- C. Lactose intolerance
- D. Crohn's disease
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Celiac disease. The patient's symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and improvement with fasting are classic for celiac disease, an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten ingestion. Her iron deficiency anemia can be attributed to malabsorption common in celiac disease. Irritable bowel syndrome (A) typically presents with abdominal pain relieved by defecation, not fasting. Lactose intolerance (C) results in symptoms after consuming dairy, not necessarily improved by fasting. Crohn's disease (D) may present similarly, but the improvement with fasting and iron deficiency anemia point more towards celiac disease in this case.
In a 45-year-old woman with a history of arthritis experiencing severe heartburn and indigestion refractory to antacids, which findings on an esophageal manometry study are consistent with her diagnosis?
- A. Vigorous peristalsis and elevated lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure
- B. Absent peristalsis and elevated LES pressure
- C. Absent peristalsis and decreased LES pressure
- D. Vigorous peristalsis and decreased LES pressure
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Absent peristalsis and decreased LES pressure. In a patient with severe heartburn and indigestion refractory to antacids, these findings are consistent with achalasia, a motility disorder characterized by impaired esophageal peristalsis and decreased LES pressure. Absent peristalsis leads to poor esophageal clearance and retention of food, causing symptoms like heartburn. Decreased LES pressure results in inadequate closure of the LES, leading to reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not match the typical findings seen in achalasia. Vigorous peristalsis and elevated LES pressure are not consistent with achalasia, while absent peristalsis with increased LES pressure is not a common presentation.
What is the best therapy for a 65-year-old man with symptoms of regurgitation, chest pain, dysphagia, weight loss, dilated esophagus, and an absent gastric air bubble on CXR?
- A. Proton-pump inhibitor
- B. Endoscopic balloon dilatation
- C. Sucralfate
- D. Esophageal resection
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Endoscopic balloon dilatation. This is the best therapy for a 65-year-old man with symptoms of regurgitation, chest pain, dysphagia, weight loss, dilated esophagus, and an absent gastric air bubble on CXR because these symptoms suggest achalasia, a motility disorder of the esophagus. Endoscopic balloon dilatation helps to disrupt the lower esophageal sphincter muscle, relieving symptoms and improving esophageal emptying. Proton-pump inhibitors (A) are used for acid-related conditions, not for achalasia. Sucralfate (C) is a mucosal protective agent and not indicated for achalasia. Esophageal resection (D) is a more invasive option and usually reserved for severe cases or when other treatments have failed.
An 89-year-old male client complains to the nurse that people are whispering behind his back and mumbling when they talk to him. What age-related condition is likely to be occurring with this client?
- A. Delirium
- B. Presbyopia
- C. Presbycusis
- D. Cerebral dysfunction
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Presbycusis. This age-related condition refers to gradual hearing loss typically seen in older adults. In this case, the client's complaint of people whispering and mumbling suggests difficulty hearing clearly, which aligns with symptoms of presbycusis. Delirium (choice A) is characterized by acute confusion and disorientation, not specifically related to hearing loss. Presbyopia (choice B) is a condition of aging that affects near vision, not hearing. Cerebral dysfunction (choice D) refers to broader cognitive impairment, not specifically related to hearing loss as in presbycusis. Therefore, choice C is the most likely age-related condition in this scenario.
A 35-year-old male patient presents with right upper quadrant pain, fever for the past 48 hours, preceded by new onset jaundice over the past few weeks. He states that he has had diarrhea on and off for several years but never had this investigated. A liver ultrasound is negative for gallstones or evidence of cholecystitis. His lab tests reveal total bilirubin 6.2, alkaline phosphatase 450, AST 150, ALT 120, albumin 2.6. The next diagnostic test of choice would be
- A. Liver biopsy
- B. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
- C. Hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C RNA assay
- D. Colonoscopy with biopsies
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). Given the patient's clinical presentation of right upper quadrant pain, fever, jaundice, and abnormal liver function tests, MRCP is the next diagnostic test of choice to evaluate the biliary tree and pancreatic ducts for possible obstruction or structural abnormalities. This would help identify the cause of the patient's symptoms, such as biliary obstruction or choledocholithiasis.
Choice A: Liver biopsy is not the next step in this scenario as the patient's symptoms are suggestive of a biliary or pancreatic etiology rather than a primary liver pathology.
Choice C: Hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C RNA assay may be relevant for evaluating viral hepatitis, but in this case, the patient's symptoms and lab results are more indicative of a biliary or pancreatic issue.
Choice D: Colonoscopy with biopsies is not the next appropriate step as the patient's symptoms and lab results are not