2008B_Paper 2 - Clinical Applications Adult Medicine

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2008 FRACP Written Examination Paper 2 - Clinical Applications Adult Medicine
Jeku Jacob
Quiz by Jeku Jacob, updated more than 1 year ago
Jeku Jacob
Created by Jeku Jacob over 8 years ago
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Resource summary

Question 1

Question
A 19-year-old female presents with short stature, neck webbing, wide spaced nipples and primary amenorrhea. Which of the following is her most likely karyotype result?
Answer
  • A. 48,XXXX
  • B. 46,XY
  • C. 47,XXX
  • D. 45,X
  • E. 47,XXY

Question 2

Question
A 31-year-old woman presents with an absence of menstrual periods since stopping the oral contraceptive pill five months ago. She has the following investigations: Weight 80.4 kg Height 1.70 m Body Mass Index 27.8 kg/m2 Prolactin 2566 mIU/L [60 – 550 mIU/L] Luteinising hormone (LH) <1.0 IU/L [3.0 – 12.0 IU/L] Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) <1.0 IU/L [2.0 – 10.0 IU/L] Oestrogen 35 821 pmol/L [100 – 2400 pmol/L] Testosterone 3.1 nmol/L [0.5 – 2.5 nmol/L] Which of the following is the most likely explanation?
Answer
  • A. Prolactinoma.
  • B. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
  • C. Pregnancy.
  • D. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
  • E. Hydatidiform mole.

Question 3

Question
A 45-year-old male receives a kidney transplant from his brother. Ten days after the operation, the transplant function appears to worsen, with serum creatinine rising from 140 μmol/L to 190 μmol/L [60 - 120 μmol/L]. What is the most likely cause of the rise in creatinine?
Answer
  • A. Ureteric obstruction.
  • B. Calcineurin inhibitor toxicity
  • C. Polyoma (BK) virus nephropathy.
  • D. Acute rejection.
  • E. Acute tubular necrosis (ATN).

Question 4

Question
An 82-year-old female complains of a decline in short-term memory, specifically difficulty remembering some names and telephone numbers. She lives alone in her own home and has been independent in all activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, since the death of her husband one year previously. Her mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score is 27 out of 30, with short-term recall of only one out of three items. The most likely diagnosis is:
Answer
  • A. early vascular dementia.
  • B. early Alzheimer’s dementia
  • C. mild cognitive impairment.
  • D. grief reaction.
  • E. normal aging.

Question 5

Question
A 65-year-old male has chest pain when he walks up hills. His pattern of angina has been unchanged over the last five years. He is taking optimal medical therapy and follows a healthy lifestyle. He asks about his prognosis with angioplasty and stenting. Compared with optimal medical therapy, stenting would be most likely to reduce:
Answer
  • A. his risk of myocardial infarction.
  • B. his risk of cardiac death.
  • C. the frequency of angina.
  • D. the need for subsequent coronary artery bypass grafting.
  • E. the risk of arrhythmia

Question 6

Question
A woman with metastatic breast cancer and painful bone secondaries develops nausea and vomiting. She is found to have a bowel obstruction and is admitted and made nil orally. She usually takes MS Contin 70 mg bd, and 2 mls of morphine mixture 10 mg/ml for breakthrough pain, usually twice each day. The bowel obstruction has not exacerbated her pain. The best estimate of the equivalent parenteral four hourly dose of morphine is:
Answer
  • A. 2 mg.
  • B. 10 mg.
  • C. 5 mg.
  • D. 50 mg.
  • E. 20 mg.

Question 7

Question
When aspirating a small effusion in the knee joint, where should the needle be inserted (see below)?
Answer
  • A. 1 cm medial to the junction of the upper and middle third of the patella.
  • B. 3 cm medial to the lower pole of the patella.
  • C. 1 cm medial to the mid point of the patella tendon
  • D. 1 cm lateral to the lower pole of the patella.
  • E. 3 cm lateral to the junction of the upper and middle third of the patella.

Question 8

Question
The renal clearance of drugs that are weak acids and weak bases is affected by changes in the urine pH. The most accurate representation of how the pH changes renal clearance is:

Question 9

Question
A 60-year-old man, with a past history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes and a 20 pack year history of smoking, presents with sudden onset of headache and a mild left sided hemiparesis. His cranial computed tomography (CT) scan is shown below.The most likely diagnosis is:
Answer
  • A. cerebral metastasis.
  • B. hypertensive haemorrhage.
  • C. amyloid angiopathy.
  • D. arteriovenous haemorrhage.
  • E. giant cerebral aneurysm.

Question 10

Question
A 25-year-old female with a history of allergic rhinitis and mild atopic dermatitis is currently pregnant with her second child. Her two-year-old son has infantile eczema and peanut allergy confirmed on skin prick testing. The patient requests advice about dietary interventions during this pregnancy to reduce the risk of the second child developing peanut sensitisation. Which of the following is the most appropriate advice?
Answer
  • A. Avoidance of peanuts and peanut products.
  • B. Avoidance of all nuts.
  • C. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation.
  • D. Elimination diet (low allergen, additive and preservative).
  • E. No specific dietary intervention

Question 11

Question
Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in dialysis patients. Elevation of which of the following clinical parameters carries the highest mortality risk?
Answer
  • A. Serum phosphate.
  • B. Serum cholesterol.
  • C. Serum homocysteine.
  • D. Serum parathyroid hormone.
  • E. Blood pressure.

Question 12

Question
A patient in the coronary care unit suffers a cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation. The initial two direct current (DC) shocks are unsuccessful. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is initiated. The Advanced Cardiac Life Support Guidelines now recommend what rate of chest compressions, over what period of time after the second defibrillation before re-examining cardiac rhythm?

Question 13

Question
In preventing the recurrence of rheumatic fever in young patients with rheumatic heart disease, which is the most effective strategy?
Answer
  • A. Early treatment of throat infection.
  • B. Vaccination against common types of streptococcus.
  • C. Secondary prophylaxis with benzathine penicillin G.
  • D. Secondary prophylaxis with amoxycillin.
  • E. Topical treatment of impetigo in family members.

Question 14

Question
Which one of the following most frequently causes hypoglycaemia in patients with diabetes?
Answer
  • A. Pioglitazone.
  • B. Glibenclamide.
  • C. Metformin.
  • D. Acarbose.
  • E. Sitagliptin.

Question 15

Question
A 65-year-old male is reviewed following surgical resection of non-small cell lung cancer. Pathology reveals involvement of local hilar lymph nodes, in addition to the primary lung cancer. What is the most appropriate further management?
Answer
  • A. Radiotherapy.
  • B. Chemotherapy.
  • C. Regular radiological follow-up.
  • D. Combined chemo-radiation therapy.
  • E. Prophylactic cranial irradiation

Question 16

Question
A 50-year-old male has a two month history of frequent, small volume stools associated with cramps and flatulence. This has occurred since returning from a holiday in South East Asia. The empiric treatment most likely to be successful is:
Answer
  • A. loperamide
  • B. tinidazole.
  • C. albendazole.
  • D. bismuth subsalicylate
  • E. norfloxacin.

Question 17

Question
A 52-year-old man with type 2 diabetes has been non-specifically unwell for a week. He underwent resection of a craniopharyngioma nine months ago. He is maintained on replacement therapy with desmopressin nasal spray, testosterone decanoate injections, oral hydrocortisone and thyroxine. He presents to hospital with a reduced level of consciousness. Systolic blood pressure is 70 mmHg and axillary temperature is 35oC. Investigations reveal the following results: Serum sodium 136 mmol/L [136 – 148 mmol/L] Serum potassium 5.2 mmol/L [3.6 - 5.5 mmol/L] Serum bicarbonate 30 mmol/L [22 – 32 mmol/L] Serum urea 8 mmol/L [3 - 8 mmol/L] Serum creatinine 120 μmol/L [30 – 120 μmol/L] Random glucose 18 mmol/L [3.5 - 7.8 mmol/L] Free L-thyroxine 9.8 pmol/L [10.0 – 26.0 pmol/L] What is the most likely cause of his acute presentation?
Answer
  • A. Raised intracranial pressure due to tumour recurrence.
  • B. Myxoedema coma.
  • C. Glucocorticoid deficiency
  • D. Diabetes insipidus.
  • E. Hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma.

Question 18

Question
A 69-year-old lady presents with chest pain following a motor vehicle accident and is found on thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan to have multiple sclerotic lesions involving ribs and thoracic vertebrae. A technetium-99m-methylene diphosphonate (MDP) bone scan reveals multiple areas of radiotracer uptake throughout the skeleton. Physical examination and mammography are normal. Which of the following is most likely to give a diagnosis?
Answer
  • A. Bone marrow biopsy.
  • B. Assay of tumour markers
  • C. Serum protein electrophoresis.
  • D. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of thorax.
  • E. Biopsy of vertebral lesion.

Question 19

Question
A 55-year-old woman with a history of bipolar disorder has been psychiatrically well for many years and adherent to a prescribed dose of lithium 500 mg twice daily. She has normal renal function. She presents to hospital at 10 a.m. with an exacerbation of her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Her lithium level as measured in the Emergency Department is 1.4 mmol/L [0.5 - 1.0 mmol/L]. The most appropriate initial action to take is to:
Answer
  • A. cease lithium.
  • B. decrease lithium dose by half and repeat lithium level in two days time.
  • C. refer for psychiatric review.
  • D. repeat lithium level at an interval of 12 hours after her last dose
  • E. measure thyroid function.

Question 20

Question
A 32-year-old man presents with a four day history of lower back pain and a two day history of difficulty rising from a chair. These symptoms were preceded by a diarrhoeal illness which has now resolved. On examination there is weakness of hip flexors bilaterally and he has trouble arising from a squat. He has normal upper limb reflexes and absent lower limb reflexes. Bladder and bowel function are normal. The most appropriate next test in establishing a diagnosis would be:
Answer
  • A. nerve conduction studies.
  • B. needle electromyography.
  • C. lumbar puncture.
  • D. lumbar computed tomography (CT) scan.
  • E. visual evoked potentials.

Question 21

Question
A 70-year-old male presents with an irregular heart beat and the ECG confirms atrial fibrillation. In terms of stroke prevention, which of the following is the strongest indication for recommending long term oral anticoagulation in this patient?
Answer
  • A. The patient’s age.
  • B. Hypertension.
  • C. Diabetes.
  • D. Dyslipidaemia.
  • E. Mitral stenosis.

Question 22

Question
A 68-year-old female presents with headache, nausea and vomiting. She is noted to have retinal haemorrhages and papilloedema. Her blood pressure is 250/150 mmHg, creatinine 200 μmol/L [50 - 120 μmol/L] and urea 28 mmol/L [<8.0 mmol/L]. The computed tomography (CT) scan of her brain shows abnormalities in the parieto-occipital regions. Which is the most appropriate initial treatment?
Answer
  • A. Captopril 12.5 mg three times daily orally.
  • B. Metoprolol 5 mg intravenously.
  • C. Sodium nitroprusside 0.25 microgram/kg/min intravenously
  • D. Nifedipine 10 mg sublingually.
  • E. Glyceryl trinitrate 10 mg/24h topically.

Question 23

Question
A 62-year-old non-smoking woman is admitted with a 24-hour history of fever, rigors, cough and breathlessness. A left lower lobe pneumonia is diagnosed on chest X-ray and she is commenced on intravenous ampicillin and oral clarithromycin. The next day she has improved clinically and Streptococcus pneumoniae is isolated from blood cultures taken on admission. The isolate is found to have a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for penicillin of 0.125 mg/L (intermediate resistance). Which of the following is the most appropriate antibiotic for ongoing management?
Answer
  • A. Vancomycin.
  • B. Moxifloxacin.
  • C. Ceftriaxone.
  • D. Ampicillin.
  • E. Cephalothin.

Question 24

Question
An 87-year-old male has New York Heart Association (NYHA) Stage IV heart failure. Echocardiography has shown systolic dysfunction with an estimated ejection fraction of 15% and his chest X-ray is shown below. He has been admitted to high level residential care (nursing home) and is bedbound with dyspnoea and fatigue secondary to heart failure. Current cardiac medications are frusemide and enalapril.The most effective treatment to relieve his dyspnoea is:
Answer
  • A. carvedilol.
  • B. morphine.
  • C. candesartan.
  • D. spironolactone.
  • E. oxygen.

Question 25

Question
In a 70-year-old male with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which of the following carries the greatest risk of death over the next 12 months?
Answer
  • A. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 60% predicted.
  • B. Body mass index (BMI) <20 kg/m2.
  • C. PaO2 of 58 mmHg.
  • D. Hospitalisation for an acute exacerbation of the disease.
  • E. PaCO2 of 47 mmHg.

Question 26

Question
A 24-year-old man is admitted to intensive care after being knocked off his bicycle by a car. He is intubated and sedated. His family tell you he has had epilepsy with generalised seizures since age 14. His only regular medication is phenytoin 300 mg daily and his last seizure was one year previously. After resuscitation the results of his blood tests include the following: Sodium (Na) 132 mmol/L [136 - 145 mmol/L] Potassium (K) 4.6 mmol/L [3.5 - 5.0 mmol/L] Creatinine 70 μmol/L [<110 μmol/L] Albumin 24 g/L [36-45 g/L] Haemoglobin (Hb) 96 g/L [130 - 175 g/L] Total Phenytoin 6 mg/L [10 – 20 mg/L] Free Phenytoin 1.5 mg/L [1 – 2 mg/L] To treat his epilepsy, the best approach is to:
Answer
  • A. continue his usual dose of phenytoin.
  • B. decrease the dose of phenytoin.
  • C. prescribe an additional loading dose of phenytoin and continue his usual maintenance dose.
  • D. prescribe an additional loading dose of phenytoin and increase the maintenance dose.
  • E. replace phenytoin with sodium valproate.

Question 27

Question
For which of the following presentations of inflammatory bowel disease is infliximab of most benefit?
Answer
  • A. Ulcerative colitis refractory to treatment with azathioprine.
  • B. Crohn’s disease with perianal fistulae.
  • C. Pouchitis refractory to antibiotic treatment.
  • D. Fulminant ulcerative colitis.
  • E. Small bowel Crohn’s disease with previous stricturoplasty.

Question 28

Question
A 72-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes presents with a chronic ulcer on the dorsum of her left foot. She has not been hospitalised in the past two years. The ulcer has been present for six months and has been treated with daily dressings. In the last 48 hours the surrounding skin has become inflamed, she has developed general malaise and her glycaemic control has worsened. Bone is visible at the base of the ulcer. There is no history of antibiotic allergy. What is the most appropriate empiric treatment pending the result of a swab?
Answer
  • A. Vancomycin and gentamicin.
  • B. Ticarcillin/Clavulanate.
  • C. Metronidazole.
  • D. Moxifloxacin.
  • E. Linezolid and ciprofloxacin.

Question 29

Question
A week after a flu like illness, a 22-year-old presents with a haemorrhagic rash on the lower extremities (as shown in the figure below), and generalised arthralgia. The serum creatinine is elevated (125 μmol/L, [<110 μmol/L]) and there is blood and protein in the urine.The most likely finding on renal biopsy is:
Answer
  • A. glomerular microangiopathy (haemolytic-uraemic syndrome).
  • B. mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis.
  • C. Henoch-Schönlein nephropathy.
  • D. antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positive vasculitis.
  • E. lupus nephropathy.

Question 30

Question
You are caring for a 55-year-old man on haemodialysis. He is on the transplant waiting list and asks about his risk of developing cancer if he has a transplant. You note he is of Anglo-Saxon descent. Which of the following cancers is he most likely to develop over the ensuing ten years post-transplantation?
Answer
  • A. Carcinoma of the prostate.
  • B. Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
  • C. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
  • D. Chronic myeloid leukaemia.
  • E. Carcinoma of the colon.

Question 31

Question
A 65-year-old Vietnam war veteran is described as having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). What is the most likely co-morbid psychiatric disorder?
Answer
  • A. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
  • B. Panic disorder.
  • C. Depression.
  • D. Somatisation disorder.
  • E. Alcohol dependence.

Question 32

Question
An 81-year-old female has atrial fibrillation and osteoarthritis, treated with warfarin, digoxin and paracetamol. She recently complained of depressive symptoms and was commenced on the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluoxetine. Two weeks later she is brought to casualty with an extradural haematoma and her international normalised ratio (INR) is 6.9. The most likely mechanism by which fluoxetine contributed to the haemorrhage is by its effect on:
Answer
  • A. cytochrome P-450.
  • B. glucuronidation.
  • C. platelets.
  • D. vitamin K.
  • E. compliance.

Question 33

Question
A sales representative brings you the following abstract in an advertising pamphlet: ‘Fifty consecutive patients with dilated cardiomyopathy in NYHA class II-IV with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 35% or below were studied with full polysomnography over one night. The mean Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index of beta-blocker free patients was 19.8+/- 14.2 versus 7.4+/-8.5 (p<0.05) and 8.7+/-8.1 (p<0.05) in patients treated with metoprolol or carvedilol, respectively.’ The sales representative suggests that beta blockers should be used in heart failure patients with sleep-disordered breathing, and that metoprolol is better than carvedilol in this situation. Which is the strongest reason to disregard this advice?
Answer
  • A. The mean value may be misleading when the data range is wide.
  • B. The results of a single polysomnography study may not be reproducible
  • C. In a nonrandomised study, differences may not be a treatment effect.
  • D. Patient characteristics are not given in sufficient detail.
  • E. The difference between carvedilol and metoprolol does not have a statistical comparison.

Question 34

Question
A 24-year-old man presented with a left testicular mass and a serum αfetoprotein (AFP) of 560 μg/L [<10 μg/L] with a normal serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). An orchidectomy revealed embryonal testicular carcinoma. He received four cycles of chemotherapy with cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin (BEP regime). His serum αfetoprotein is now normal. His post-completion chemotherapy abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan is shown below.The most appropriate next step in his management is:
Answer
  • A. autologous stem cell transplant.
  • B. external beam radiotherapy.
  • C. ongoing observation.
  • D. continue BEP chemotherapy.
  • E. retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.

Question 35

Question
The clinical presentation of motor neurone disease that is most likely to be associated with an aggressive course and a short life expectancy is:
Answer
  • A. bulbar weakness with dysarthria
  • B. foot drop.
  • C. wasting of the small muscles of the hand.
  • D. widespread fasciculations in all four limbs.
  • E. progressive spasticity with hyper-reflexia.

Question 36

Question
A 67-year-old man with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate, prednisolone and celecoxib presents unwell with fatigue and anorexia. On examination his arthritis is quiescent but he has two mouth ulcers. His full blood examination is shown below. Haemoglobin (Hb) 102 g/L [115 – 150 g/L] Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 101.2 fL [80.0 – 96.0 fL] Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) 29.1 pg [27.0 – 33.0 pg] Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) 350 g/L [320 – 360 g/L] White cell count (WCC) 1.4 x 109/L [4 – 11 x 109/L] Neutrophils 0.5 x 109/L [2 – 5 x 109/L] Platelets 90 x 109/L [150 – 400 x 109/L] Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) 67 mm/hour [<22 mm/hour] The most appropriate drug to administer is:
Answer
  • A. folic acid.
  • B. filgrastim (Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (GCSF)).
  • C. folinic acid.
  • D. cholestyramine.
  • E. prednisolone.

Question 37

Question
The concept that genetic counselling should be nondirective arises mostly from respect for which of the following principles of medical ethics?
Answer
  • A. Justice.
  • B. Beneficence.
  • C. Autonomy.
  • D. Non-maleficence.
  • E. Dignity.

Question 38

Question
Which of the following factors is the strongest contraindication to the use of interferon in the treatment of viral hepatitis?
Answer
  • A. Disease acquisition during childhood.
  • B. Child-Pugh category C status.
  • C. Serum alanine transaminase levels <2 times normal.
  • D. Hepatitis e antigen negative infection.
  • E. Immunocompromised status.

Question 39

Question
A 55-year-old male diabetic patient has a history of acute onset of severe mid-sternal chest discomfort during sleep. The patient is diaphoretic. The heart rate is 58 beats/minutes. The blood pressure is 88/62 mmHg in the right arm and 92/60 mmHg in the left arm. The respiratory rate is 20 breaths/minute and there is marked jugular venous pressure elevation. Auscultation reveals no murmurs but an S4 gallop is heard. There are clear lung fields. There is no peripheral oedema. His ECG is shown below: What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer
  • A. Acute pericarditis.
  • B. Aortic dissection.
  • C. Acute pulmonary embolism
  • D. Right ventricular infarction.
  • E. Acute pericardial tamponade.

Question 40

Question
Which of the following drugs is least likely to exacerbate urinary retention in an elderly man with benign prostate hypertrophy?
Answer
  • A. Chlorpromazine.
  • B. Citalopram.
  • C. Amitriptyline.
  • D. Olanzapine.
  • E. Promethazine.

Question 41

Question
A 60-year-old male presents with central weight gain, hypertension, and diabetes. He has a history of asthma treated with inhaled corticosteroids. He drinks two standard drinks of alcohol/day. On examination he has central obesity, thin skin, and proximal muscle weakness. The following test results are obtained: 24 hour urinary free cortisol 1400 nmol/day [<400 nmol/day] 0900 plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) 15 pmol/L [3 – 20 pmol/L] Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pituitary normal Which of the following is the most likely cause of this man’s presentation?
Answer
  • A. Exogenous glucocorticoid administration.
  • B. Pseudo-Cushing’s syndrome.
  • C. Cushing’s disease.
  • D. Ectopic Cushing’s syndrome
  • E. Cortisol producing adrenal adenoma.

Question 42

Question
A 78-year-old male is admitted to hospital with a hemiplegic stroke. He is unable to mobilize or sit out of bed. He is incontinent. He can swallow thickened fluids. The most effective method to reduce his risk of pressure ulcers is:
Answer
  • A. a specialized mattress.
  • B. nutritional supplementation.
  • C. catheterization.
  • D. second hourly turns
  • E. prevention of dry skin with lotions

Question 43

Question
A 48-year-old female presents to an Emergency Department complaining of acute breathlessness following a four-hour car journey. Her breathlessness resolves in the Emergency Department. Physical examination is normal, the SaO2 is 95% breathing room air and a chest X-ray and ECG are normal. A sensitive d-dimer is negative. What is the most appropriate management approach?
Answer
  • A. Computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiogram.
  • B. Venous Doppler ultrasound of lower limbs.
  • C. Ventilation-perfusion lung scan.
  • D. Arterial blood gas analysis.
  • E. Reassurance and discharge.

Question 44

Question
A 43-year-old man with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), first diagnosed 20 years previously, presents with a gradual onset of right-sided hip pain. He is on tenofovir, emtracitabine and efavirenz. He has had no acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) defining illnesses in the past. On examination he has evidence of facial lipoatrophy and there is limitation of the range of movement of the right hip because of pain. All other joints are normal. There are no skin rashes. An X-ray of his hip is shown below. Laboratory results show: CD4 count 0.41 x 109/L [0.45 – 1.1 x 109/L] HIV viral load undetectable Full blood count (FBC) within normal limits Uric acid 0.55 mmol/L [0.18 – 0.48 mmol/L] Antinuclear antibodies not detected Rheumatoid factor not detected What is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer
  • A. Avascular necrosis.
  • B. Psoriatic arthritis.
  • C. Osteoarthritis.
  • D. Rheumatoid arthritis.
  • E. Gout.

Question 45

Question
A previously healthy 67-year-old man presents with spontaneous muscle bleeds. Coagulation tests reveal the following: Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) 81 sec [26 - 38 sec] APTT correction (immediate mix) 37 sec [26 - 38 sec] APTT correction (2 hour incubation) 76 sec [26 - 38 sec] Thrombin Clotting Time 12 sec [10 - 12 sec] Fibrinogen 3.2 g/L [2.0 - 4.0 g/L] Which of the following best accounts for the coagulation test results?
Answer
  • A. Haemophilia A.
  • B. Von Willebrand disease.
  • C. Acquired factor VIII inhibitor.
  • D. Lupus anticoagulant.
  • E. Disseminated intravascular coagulation

Question 46

Question
An observational study of over 70,000 patients examined gender differences in in-hospital mortality after acute myocardial infarction. The crude hospital mortality rate was 14.8% for women and 6.1% for men (odds ratio 2.65; 95% CI, 2.52 to 2.79). Most of this difference was due to imbalance in age; after adjustment, the absolute difference in hospital mortality was only 1.95%. Further adjustment for differences in comorbidity, body size and the use of percutaneous intervention left three-quarters of the mortality difference ‘unexplained’. What is the most likely reason for these findings?
Answer
  • A. Diabetes and obesity were more common in women.
  • B. Non-cardiac death was more common in women.
  • C. Women had more severe disease at presentation.
  • D. The rates of percutaneous coronary intervention were different.
  • E. Follow-up in men was incomplete

Question 47

Question
The presence of which of the following is the best reason not to commence alendronate for a woman with postmenopausal osteoporosis?
Answer
  • A. Oesophageal stricture.
  • B. Dental caries.
  • C. Hyperparathyroidism
  • D. Serum creatinine 140 μmol/L.
  • E. Recent fracture.

Question 48

Question
A 30-year-old female presents with a painful swollen left calf. Duplex study demonstrates a proximal deep vein thrombus extending into the ileofemoral venous system. The following laboratory results are obtained: Prothrombin time (PT) 16 sec [11 – 18 sec] Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) 43 sec [25 – 36 sec] Dilute Russell Viper venom test Lupus anticoagulant detected Anticardiolipin IgG negative Anticardiolipin IgM negative Anti-beta 2 glycoprotein 1 moderate positive Treatment with anticoagulation with heparin followed by warfarin therapy is commenced. Repeat testing at 12-weeks confirms a positive anti-beta 2 glycoprotein 1. What is the most appropriate duration of anticoagulation?
Answer
  • A. 3 months.
  • B. 6 months.
  • C. 12 months.
  • D. 24 months.
  • E. Lifelong.

Question 49

Question
A 35-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes since age 14 years is reviewed. She reports three episodes of hypoglycaemia with levels <3.0 mmol/L during the night in the last month. There have also been a number of hypoglycaemic episodes in the late morning. Recent results show: Weight 55 kg Fasting plasma glucose 12.3 mmol/L [4.0 – 6.0 mmol/L] Hb A1c 6.9% [<6%] Urine microalbumin:creatinine ratio 0.1 [<3.5] Current insulin regimen: Neutral Protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin 14 units before breakfast and 12 units before bed Insulin aspart 4 - 6 units before breakfast and lunch and 8 - 10 units before dinner Which one of the following modifications to her insulin regimen would be most effective in optimising her glycaemic control?
Answer
  • A. Omit evening NPH insulin.
  • B. Change time of evening NPH insulin to before evening meal.
  • C. Reduction of evening aspart insulin by 10%.
  • D. Introduction of insulin glargine at a dose of 12 units in place of evening NPH insulin.
  • E. Substitution of both doses of NPH insulin with one pre-breakfast dose of 20 units of insulin glargine.

Question 50

Question
A 56-year-old man with a past history of bicuspid aortic valve develops bacteraemia with Staphylococcus aureus and echocardiography shows a 1.0 cm vegetation on the aortic valve. He has a known history of penicillin hypersensitivity – he reports a sudden onset of tongue and throat swelling after receiving the drug when he was 20 years old. What is the most appropriate intravenous antibiotic?
Answer
  • A. Ceftriaxone.
  • B. Meropenem.
  • C. Vancomycin.
  • D. Clindamycin.
  • E. Flucloxacillin.

Question 51

Question
Compared with tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors are more likely to be associated with an increased risk of which of the following?
Answer
  • A. Endometrial cancers.
  • B. Osteoporosis.
  • C. Hot flushes.
  • D. Thrombo-embolic disease.
  • E. Local recurrence.

Question 52

Question
A 67-year-old diabetic female is referred for the first time. She has significant renal impairment with the following results: Serum creatinine 180 μmol/L [<110 μmol/L] Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 34 ml/min [90 – 150 ml/min]. Haemoglobin (Hb) 105 gm/L [115 - 135 gm/L] Proteinuria 0.38 gm/day [<0.12 gm/day] Blood pressure 150/90 mmHg HbA1c 7.5% Which of the following interventions is likely to have the greatest impact on slowing the progression of her renal impairment?
Answer
  • A. Blood pressure reduction.
  • B. Tight glycaemic control.
  • C. Erythropoietin therapy.
  • D. Control of serum phosphate.
  • E. Low protein diet.

Question 53

Question
A 28-year-old woman presents with a three month history of numbness of the hands and feet. On examination, upper and lower extremity reflexes are symmetrically brisk with bilaterally downgoing plantar responses. Upper extremity power is normal with a normal sensory examination. There is mild weakness of ankle dorsiflexion bilaterally with reduced sensation to pin prick to the level of the ankles. Joint position sense is normal. Vibration sense is impaired to the level of the tibial tuberosity bilaterally. Her MRI scan is shown below. The most likely diagnosis is:
Answer
  • A. syringomyelia.
  • B. spinal demyelination.
  • C. spinal cord ependymoma.
  • D. subacute combined degeneration of the cord.
  • E. chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

Question 54

Question
In a 75-year-old woman presenting with a unilateral temporal headache, which of the following clinical features is most specific for a diagnosis of temporal arteritis?
Answer
  • A. Temporal artery tenderness.
  • B. Blurred vision.
  • C. Jaw (masseter) claudication.
  • D. Pain and stiffness around the shoulders and hips.
  • E. Fever.

Question 55

Question
A previously well 30-year-old woman presents 24 hours after ingestion of around 50 tablets which have not been identified. She initially had minimal symptoms for a few hours and then developed severe vomiting and bloody diarrhoea. This has now settled but she is now hypotensive, tachycardic, tachypnoeic, has a metabolic acidosis, poor urine output and raised liver transaminases (alanine transaminase (ALT) 350 U/L [<35 U/L]). The poisoning most consistent with this presentation is:
Answer
  • A. paracetamol.
  • B. theophylline.
  • C. amitriptyline.
  • D. iron.
  • E. ibuprofen.

Question 56

Question
A 52-year-old man with no personal or family history of colon cancer, colonic polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease underwent a colonoscopy for rectal bleeding that showed haemorrhoids and a 1.5 cm pedunculated polyp at the hepatic flexure that was removed by means of a snare with cautery. The polyp was a tubulovillous adenoma without high-grade dysplasia. What advice should be conveyed about risks to close relatives?
Answer
  • A. He should encourage his first-degree relatives to discuss their family history and screening with their clinicians
  • B. He should encourage his first and second-degree relatives to discuss their family history and screening with their clinicians.
  • C. First-degree relatives should begin colonoscopic screening at 40 years of age.
  • D. First and second-degree relatives should begin colonoscopic screening at 50 years of age.
  • E. There is no increased risk of colorectal cancer among relatives, and they should undergo

Question 57

Question
A 25-year-old presents with acute pancreatitis. There is no significant past medical history and minimal alcohol intake. Ultrasound demonstrates stones in the gall bladder. Which of the following most strongly indicates the need for urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)?
Answer
  • A. Age <30 years.
  • B. Bilirubin 80 μmol/L [14 – 22 μmol/L].
  • C. Alanine transaminase (ALT) >310 IU/L [15 – 45 IU/L].
  • D. Lipase 10 000.
  • E. Extensive interstitial (oedematous) pancreatitis in computed tomography (CT) scan.

Question 58

Question
A patient with slowly advancing renal failure attends for a routine clinic visit. Laboratory results reveal a serum creatinine of 650 μmol/L [<110 μmol/L] and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 11 ml/minute [90 – 150 ml/minute]. Despite this, the patient is working full time. Which of the following is the strongest indicator of the need to commence dialysis in this patient?
Answer
  • A. Serum potassium 6.0 mmol/L [3.5 - 5.0 mmol/L].
  • B. Serum urea 42 mmol/L [3.0-6.7 mmol/L].
  • C. Blood pressure 160/105 mmHg.
  • D. Evidence of ankle oedema.
  • E. A pericardial rub.

Question 59

Question
A 60-year-old female with hypertension and epilepsy is referred to outpatients for management. She smokes 20 cigarettes/day. What is the most appropriate intervention to achieve abstinence from tobacco smoking?
Answer
  • A. Nicotine replacement therapy
  • B. Referral to a telephone counselling line.
  • C. Clear medical advice to stop smoking
  • D. Referral for acupuncture
  • E. Prescription of bupropion.

Question 60

Question
A 59-year-old woman with chronic liver failure on the basis of longstanding alcohol abuse is admitted with haematemesis. Her bleeding ceases spontaneously, her liver failure is stabilized with lactulose and she is successfully withdrawn from alcohol with a tapering regime of benzodiazepines and thiamine. She has a mild short term memory impairment which her family say is chronic. She intermittently refuses lactulose, describing diarrhoea. Towards the end of her second week in hospital she abruptly becomes abusive of staff, accusing all of neglecting her care, refuses a previously agreed rehabilitation placement describing the rehabilitation facility as dangerous, refuses all her medications describing them as “poison” and refuses venesection or other investigation. The most likely psychiatric explanation for her new behaviour is:
Answer
  • A. paranoid psychosis.
  • B. depression.
  • C. delirium.
  • D. personality disorder.
  • E. alcohol related brain damage.

Question 61

Question
A 79-year-old male is brought to the Emergency Department shortly after a fall in a shopping centre. His medical history includes hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and a current infective exacerbation of his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Medications are simvastatin, hydrochlorothiazide, captopril and roxithromycin. On examination his temperature is 37.8oC and his blood pressure is 160/85 mmHg. He has not had any acute injury. Blood tests reveal an elevated creatine kinase of 1325 U/L [50 - 180 U/L]. Initial troponin is normal. His ECG is shown below.The most likely explanation for the raised creatine kinase is:
Answer
  • A. acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
  • B. infective myositis.
  • C. statin-induced myopathy.
  • D. muscle injury.
  • E. non ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Question 62

Question
The predominant cause of stroke after cardiac surgery is:
Answer
  • A. air embolism.
  • B. aortic atherosclerotic embolism.
  • C. intra-cranial haemorrhage.
  • D. hypotension.
  • E. carotid stenosis.

Question 63

Question
A 21-year-old male is referred for management of severe rhinosinusitis. He describes symptoms of chronic nasal congestion, post-nasal drip and headache. Symptoms are acutely worse after aspirin ingestion which also results in development of dyspnoea and wheeze. Examination reveals bilateral nasal polyposis with nasal airway obstruction. Skin prick testing for common aeroallergens is negative. In addition to advising avoidance of aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, which of the following is the most appropriate first line of therapy for management of rhinosinusitis in this patient?
Answer
  • A. Referral for surgical polypectomy.
  • B. Intranasal corticosteroid spray.
  • C. Oral histamine-1 (H1) – blocker.
  • D. Aspirin desensitisation.
  • E. Oral montelukast.

Question 64

Question
A 37-year-old male is found to have some persistently enlarged lymph nodes (<2 cm diameter) in the left posterior triangle. A biopsy reveals follicular, Grade 1, B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Staging procedures including computed tomography (CT) scan, positron emission tomography (PET) scan and bone marrow biopsy confirm the disease is confined to a single lymph node region in the neck. Which of the following management strategies is most appropriate?
Answer
  • A. Watch and wait.
  • B. Oral chlorambucil.
  • C. Radiotherapy.
  • D. Multiagent chemotherapy.
  • E. Combined modality therapy.

Question 65

Question
A 27-year-old man presents with an 18 month history of low back pain and stiffness, a swollen left knee and heel pain. Examination demonstrates reduced lumbar flexion and chest expansion. He is HLA-B27 positive and has a C-reactive protein (CRP) of 25 mg/L [<8 mg/L]. In addition to physiotherapy what is the most appropriate initial pharmacological therapy?
Answer
  • A. Prednisolone.
  • B. Naproxen.
  • C. Methotrexate.
  • D. Etanercept.
  • E. Salazopyrin.

Question 66

Question
Many medical journals require pre-registration of drug trials as a pre-requisite to considering publication of trial results. Which is the most important reason for adopting this policy?
Answer
  • A. Reduction in publication bias.
  • B. Reduction in fraudulent data.
  • C. Independent data analysis.
  • D. Reduction in “ghost writing” of trial results.
  • E. Increased peer review of trial design.

Question 67

Question
A 68-year-old man was admitted five days earlier for treatment of pneumonia. He has recovered enough to contemplate discharge but over the course of the day he is noted to be newly disorientated, is wandering and demanding to go home. Physical examination does not reveal any new signs. His elderly wife visits in the afternoon and manages to settle him. What is now the most appropriate course of action?
Answer
  • A. Allow his discharge in the care of his wife.
  • B. Ask his wife to stay with him until he settles for the night and plan discharge for the following day.
  • C. Transfer to a psychiatry ward.
  • D. Retain on the respiratory ward with one-on-one nursing.
  • E. Prescribe a benzodiazepine hypnotic and observe and investigate as necessary the following day.

Question 68

Question
A 29-year-old woman is referred for evaluation after she was found to be heterozygous for factor V Leiden mutation on screening. This screening was initiated when her great aunt sustained a calf vein thrombosis following hip arthroplasty. She is currently 16-weeks pregnant and has no personal history of venous thromboembolic disease. Which of the following should be recommended for the remainder of her pregnancy?
Answer
  • A. Low molecular weight heparin.
  • B. Aspirin.
  • C. No thromboprophylaxis.
  • D. Surveillance ultrasonography of the lower limbs.
  • E. Warfarin.

Question 69

Question
A 30-year-old woman presents three months postpartum with weight loss, tremor, palpitations and heat intolerance. On clinical examination she is tachycardic, has a fine finger tremor, lid retraction, lid lag but no goitre. Thyroid function test results are: Free T4 35 pmol/L [10 – 24 pmol/L] Free T3 12.0 pmol/L [3.8 - 6.8 pmol/L] Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) <0.01 mIU/L [0.40 – 4.00 mIU/L] Anti thyroid peroxidase antibodies Positive Thyroid scintiscan is shown below.Which of the following is the most likely cause of this woman’s thyrotoxicosis? A. Factitious thyrotoxicosis. B. Postpartum thyroiditis. C. Graves disease. D. Subacute thyroiditis. E. Iodine-
Answer
  • A. Factitious thyrotoxicosis.
  • B. Postpartum thyroiditis.
  • C. Graves disease.
  • D. Subacute thyroiditis.
  • E. Iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis.

Question 70

Question
An 81-year-old female has had surgery for early stage breast cancer (node negative) and the tumour is ER+ (oestrogen receptor positive) and HER+ (herceptin receptor positive). She also has congestive cardiac failure for which she takes frusemide and candesartan. Which of the following treatment approaches would most improve her life expectancy?
Answer
  • A. Trastuzumab.
  • B. Tamoxifen.
  • C. Letrozole (aromatase inhibitor).
  • D. Cyclophosphamide, methotextrate, 5-fluorouracil (CMF).
  • E. No treatment.

Question 71

Question
A 35-year-old man with a longstanding history of attacks of acute gout is reviewed three months after commencing allopurinol 100 mg daily. Which factor is most relevant in determining whether the dose of the allopurinol should be increased on this visit?
Answer
  • A. Frequency of attacks of gout.
  • B. Uric acid level.
  • C. Presence of tophi.
  • D. Active knee inflammation
  • E. C-reactive protein (CRP) level.

Question 72

Question
A 57-year-old woman who had been previously well, presented with altered bowel habit and was found to have a descending colon carcinoma. She subsequently had a left hemicolectomy. Pathologically, there was no evidence of perforation, the adenocarcinoma was confined to the bowel wall, but one of five nodes contained tumour. What is the optimal treatment for her once she recovers from her surgery?
Answer
  • A. 5 Fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.
  • B. Close observation
  • C. Further node dissection to obtain more nodes.
  • D. 5 Fluorouracil-based chemotherapy with radiotherapy.
  • E. Radiotherapy.

Question 73

Question
A 65-year-old man presents with a two week history of fever and arthralgia and is found to have a serum creatinine of 750 μmol/L [<110 μmol/L]. Which of the following best supports a diagnosis of crescentic glomerulonephritis?
Answer
  • A. 24 hour urinary protein excretion of 2.3 gm/day [<0.2 gm/day].
  • B. The presence of macroscopic haematuria.
  • C. Urinary albumin/creatinine ratio of 35 mg/mmol [<3.5 mg/mmol]
  • D. The presence of urinary red cell casts.
  • E. The presence of dysmorphic urinary red cells >100/μl [<10/μl]

Question 74

Question
A 67-year-old diabetic man with atrial fibrillation is taking warfarin for primary prophylaxis and is scheduled for inguinal hernia repair. His echocardiogram shows no structural abnormality. His international normalised ratio (INR) is 2.9. Which of the following preoperative anticoagulant management strategies is most appropriate?
Answer
  • A. Withhold warfarin therapy for four days before surgery and administer low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for these four days, ceasing 24 hours prior to surgery.
  • B. Withhold warfarin therapy four days before surgery and administer vitamin K1 on the evening prior to surgery if his INR> 1.5.
  • C. Withhold warfarin for two days prior to surgery.
  • D. Continue warfarin up until the time of surgery then administer prothrombin complex concentrate on the day of surgery.
  • E. Withhold warfarin therapy for four days before surgery. Commence intravenous infusion of unfractionated heparin two days prior to surgery, ceasing four hours prior to surgery.

Question 75

Question
Which of the following agents is most likely to induce weight loss when used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus?
Answer
  • A. Acarbose.
  • B. Glargine insulin.
  • C. Glimepiride.
  • D. Metformin.
  • E. Pioglitazone.

Question 76

Question
A 34-week pregnant patient presents to emergency with epigastric and right upper quadrant pain and nausea. Blood pressure is 140/85 mmHg. Relevant blood work shows: Aspartate transaminase (AST) 150 IU/L [15 – 45 IU/L] Prothrombin Time 14 secs [11 – 15 secs] Bilirubin 25 μmol/L [14 – 22 μmol/L] Platelets 75 x 109/L [150 – 400 x 109/L] Haemoglobin (Hb) 90 g/L [110 – 130 g/L] Transabdominal ultrasound reveals sludge in the gall bladder. The most appropriate management is:
Answer
  • A. urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with biliary sphincterotomy.
  • B. antibiotics and elective cholecystectomy.
  • C. urgent delivery.
  • D. plasma exchange.
  • E. magnesium sulphate.

Question 77

Question
A 46-year-old man with hypertension and previous end stage renal failure due to glomerulonephritis, received a kidney transplant 15 years ago. His creatinine has been stable at 110-130 μmol/L [60 - 120 μmol/L] for the last five years. During this time his immunosuppression has been unchanged and consists of azathioprine 100 mg daily and prednisolone 5 mg daily. His general practitioner is concerned about his reported mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of 106 fL [80 – 96 fL]. Which of the following is the most likely cause?
Answer
  • A. Folate deficiency.
  • B. Azathioprine.
  • C. Myelodysplasia.
  • D. Haemolysis
  • E. Hypothyroidism.

Question 78

Question
Use of which of the following drug classes is most likely to lead to the onset of type 2 diabetes?
Answer
  • A. Atypical antipsychotic drugs.
  • B. Beta-blockers
  • C. Thiazides.
  • D. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
  • E. Tricyclic antidepressants

Question 79

Question
A 20-year-old female presents 48 hours after ingesting 16g of paracetamol. There are no signs of hepatic encephalopathy. Blood tests on admission include alanine transaminase (ALT) of 8000 IU/L [15 – 45 IU/L]. Treatment with N-acetyl cysteine is commenced. After 16 hours she has developed mild abdominal tenderness and her international normalised ratio (INR) is 2.5. In addition to liaising with a liver transplant unit, the most appropriate management is:
Answer
  • A. continue N-acetyl cysteine
  • B. give vitamin K.
  • C. commence treatment with extracorporeal liver-assist device
  • D. parenteral antioxidants
  • E. intravenous prostacyclin

Question 80

Question
A 57-year-old man has known chronic kidney disease due to mesangio-capillary glomerulonephritis. He presents now, relatively asymptomatic but with the following parameters: His anaemia is most likely due to:
Answer
  • A. worsening of his renal function.
  • B. haemolysis associated with his glomerulonephritis.
  • C. haematuria associated with his glomerulonephritis
  • D. gastro-intestinal bleeding.
  • E. folate deficiency.

Question 81

Question
The most common reason for reduced oral intake in people with endstage dementia is:
Answer
  • A. impaired swallowing.
  • B. deliberate self harm.
  • C. physical inactivity.
  • D. increased metabolic rate.
  • E. dental disease.

Question 82

Question
Which of the following secondary causes of hyperlipidaemia is most likely to cause a predominant increase in LDL-cholesterol?
Answer
  • A. Protease inhibitor therapy.
  • B. Type 2 diabetes.
  • C. Obesity.
  • D. Alcohol excess.
  • E. Hypothyroidism.

Question 83

Question
A 27-year-old medical student presents with three episodes of fevers, headache, chills and rigors and loose stools over the past week. She returned from an elective placement in Papua New Guinea six weeks previously. She took doxycycline for malaria prophylaxis. Examination reveals a fever of 40oC, but no other abnormal findings. Her chest X-ray is clear. The following test results were obtained: Haemoglobin (Hb) 115 g/L [115 – 135 g/L] White cell count (WCC) within normal limits Platelet count 120 x 109/L [150 – 400 x 109/L] Thick and thin blood films no parasites detected Liver function tests within normal limits In addition to blood cultures, what is the most appropriate next step?
Answer
  • A. Repeat thick and thin blood film.
  • B. Dengue polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  • C. Mantoux test.
  • D. Oral metronidazole.
  • E. Oral ciprofloxacin.

Question 84

Question
A 15-year-old male presents with acute onset of symptoms of upper airway obstruction. He has a history of hereditary angioneurotic oedema. Which of the following is the most effective therapy?
Answer
  • A. Histamine-1 (H1) blockers.
  • B. Intravenous glucocorticoids.
  • C. Fresh frozen plasma.
  • D. Intramuscular adrenaline.
  • E. C1 inhibitor concentrate.

Question 85

Question
A 54-year-old woman is receiving chemotherapy with oxaliplatin, 5 fluorouracil (5FU) and folinic acid as adjuvant therapy for newly diagnosed node positive colon cancer. During the continuous infusion of 5FU, she experiences retrosternal chest pain. She is not known to have a history of coronary artery disease, and has not had chest pain previously. What is the most likely cause of her chest pain?
Answer
  • A. Coronary artery spasm.
  • B. Oesophageal spasm.
  • C. Anaphylaxis.
  • D. Aortic dissection.
  • E. Mucositis.

Question 86

Question
In the long-term management of asthma, which of the following is most effective in improving disease outcomes?
Answer
  • A. Providing a written action plan.
  • B. Peak flow monitoring.
  • C. Regular medical follow-up.
  • D. Providing asthma education.
  • E. Referral to a self-help group.

Question 87

Question
A 70-year-old female has severe community acquired pneumonia. She has been oliguric over the past three hours. She has the following hemodynamic parameters; Heart rate 110/min [70 – 100/min] Mean arterial pressure (MAP) 55 mmHg [70 – 100 mmHg] Central venous pressure (CVP) 10 mmHg [4 – 10 mmHg] Pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) 14 mmHg [4 – 10 mmHg] Cardiac output (CO) 5 L/min [4 – 7 L/min] Cardiac index(CI) 2.7 L/min/m2 [2.5 – 4.2 L/min/m2] In addition to fluid therapy, which of the following interventions is most likely to prevent her developing acute renal failure?
Answer
  • A. Dopamine 3 mcg/kg/min IV.
  • B. Frusemide 20 mg/h IV.
  • C. Mannitol 1 g IV.
  • D. N-acetyl cysteine 600 mg q12h IV.
  • E. Noradrenaline 0.1 mcg/kg/min IV.

Question 88

Question
A 58-year-old male presented with an acute inferior ST elevation myocardial infarction to a rural centre and received thrombolysis. There was no resolution of ST elevation but he became pain free after 18 hours of chest pain. The patient had no further chest pain. A week later coronary angiography was performed. This showed a proximal occlusion of the right coronary artery with no significant disease elsewhere. Cardiac systolic function was only mildly impaired. In addition to optimal medical therapy and risk factor modification, which of the following is the most appropriate next step?
Answer
  • A. Coronary artery bypass grafting of the occluded vessel.
  • B. Percutaneous angioplasty and stenting of the occluded vessel.
  • C. Percutaneous angioplasty and stenting of the occluded vessel with a drug-eluting stent.
  • D. No additional intervention.
  • E. Implantation of a cardiac defibrillator.

Question 89

Question
A 65-year-old man with a history of paroxysmal atrial tachycardia who has been treated with amiodarone for five years presents with worsening palpitations. Thyroid function tests show the following results: FT4 45 pmol/L [10 – 24 pmol/L] FT3 10.0 pmol/L [2.5 – 6.0 pmol/L] Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) <0.03 mIU/L [0.4 – 4.0 mIU/L] He is commenced on carbimazole 10 mg tds but fails to improve and three weeks later his thyroid function tests are as follows: FT4 100 pmol/L FT3 14 pmol/L TSH <0.03 mIU/L Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient’s thyrotoxicosis?
Answer
  • A. Graves Disease.
  • B. Type 1 (iodine-induced) amiodarone induced thyrotoxicosis.
  • C. Type 2 (inflammatory) amiodarone induced thyrotoxicosis.
  • D. Subacute viral thyroiditis
  • E. Toxic multinodular goitre.

Question 90

Question
A 43-year-old woman presents with a six month history of hypertension which has been difficult to control. She is now taking three agents for her blood pressure control. She has a serum potassium of 2.7 mmol/L [3.6 - 5.2 mmol/L] and you are concerned about primary hyperaldosteronism (Conn’s syndrome). Which of the following medications is most likely to interfere with the interpretation of an aldosterone:renin ratio result?
Answer
  • A. Amlodipine.
  • B. Enalapril.
  • C. Spironolactone.
  • D. Metoprolol.
  • E. Alpha-methyl-dopa.

Question 91

Question
A 22-year-old woman is brought to the Emergency Department after collapsing. She recalls feeling “spaced out” and nauseated for 20-30 seconds prior to collapsing. Her friends state that she fell to the floor and had some brief twitching movements of the face and limbs. She regained consciousness quickly and was coherent by the time the ambulance arrived. This episode is most likely to be a:
Answer
  • A. Stokes-Adams attack.
  • B. subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH).
  • C. complex partial seizure.
  • D. primary generalized seizure.
  • E. vasovagal syncope.

Question 92

Question
A 20-year-old male with known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is admitted from the community with a two day history of cough and sputum production. On examination he has a temperature of 38oC and his chest X-ray shows patchy opacification of the right middle and lower lobes. The most likely organism responsible for his clinical features is:
Answer
  • A. Streptococcus pneumoniae.
  • B. Legionella pneumophila.
  • C. Mycobacterium avium-complex
  • D. Pneumocystis jiroveci (carinii).
  • E. Cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Question 93

Question
A 54-year-old man with a previous history of gout presents with an acutely swollen painful left knee for 24 hours. On examination he is febrile (38.2oC) and has a large effusion of the left knee and limited range of motion due to pain. Aspiration of the joint reveals: White cell count 50,000 cells/ml Microscopy No crystals Gram stain negative The best initial treatment is:
Answer
  • A. flucloxacillin.
  • B. indomethacin.
  • C. prednisolone.
  • D. allopurinol.
  • E. colchicine.

Question 94

Question
A 55-year-old male presents for antihypertensive medication. During the interview, you are told that his 82-year-old father has recently been diagnosed with colon cancer. Which of the following is the most appropriate colon cancer screening for this patient?
Answer
  • A. One-off colonoscopy.
  • B. Five yearly colonoscopy.
  • C. Annual faecal occult blood testing.
  • D. Barium enema.
  • E. Computed tomography (CT) colonography.

Question 95

Question
A 30-year-old woman has known Sjogren’s syndrome and a past history of a single renal calculus. She presents with a metabolic acidosis, with hyperchloraemia. The plasma anion gap is normal. There is no bicarbonate in the urine and the urine pH is 5.7. What is the most likely cause of her presentation?
Answer
  • A. Proximal renal tubular acidosis.
  • B. Osteomalacia.
  • C. Chronic diarrhoea.
  • D. Distal renal tubular acidosis.
  • E. Type 4 renal tubular acidosis.

Question 96

Question
A 68-year-old female develops pulmonary oedema and myocardial infarction during general anesthesia for parathyroidectomy. Her coronary arteries are normal at coronary angiography. While ventilated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), significant problems occur due to hypertension. Her abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan is shown below. Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment for her hypertension?
Answer
  • A. Beta-blockers
  • B. Angiotensin II converting enzyme inhibitors.
  • C. Nitrates.
  • D. Alpha-blockers.
  • E. Calcium channel blockers.

Question 97

Question
An 80-year-old man had two transient ischaemic attacks 18 months ago. These consisted of right sided weakness and aphasia lasting 60 minutes with full recovery. A Doppler ultrasound examination of the carotids reveals 80% stenosis at the bifurcation of the left carotid artery. The main reason not to advise carotid endartectomy is:
Answer
  • A. advanced age.
  • B. degree of carotid artery stenosis.
  • C. side of carotid artery stenosis.
  • D. duration since transient ischaemic attack.
  • E. full neurological recovery following transient ischaemic attack

Question 98

Question
A 72-year-old man presents to hospital having woken from sleep with paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea. This is his second presentation to hospital with this problem. He is known to have ischaemic heart disease and an echocardiogram performed during his last admission revealed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 25%. The respiratory parameters from a polysomnographic sleep study are shown below.The most likely explanation for the change is:
Answer
  • A. Cheyne-Stokes respiration (periodic breathing).
  • B. obstructive sleep apnoea.
  • C. periodic leg movement disorder.
  • D. upper airway resistance syndrome
  • E. obesity hypoventilation syndrome.

Question 99

Question
A 42-year-old woman has recently had a mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast carcinoma. Her paternal grandmother had ovarian carcinoma in her early fifties. She has a 32-year-old well sister. Apart from advising her on appropriate adjuvant therapy, the next most important issue you should also discuss with her is:
Answer
  • A. prophylactic oophorectomy.
  • B. radiation ovarian ablation.
  • C. prophylactic contralateral mastectomy.
  • D. screening her sister for a genetic mutation
  • E. screening her for a genetic mutation.

Question 100

Question
A 64-year-old previously well smoker develops a cough and is found to have a lung mass. An endobronchial biopsy reveals small cell lung carcinoma. He has lost 7 kg in weight, and is now 65 kg, but he still has a good performance status. His liver function tests reveal: Alkaline phosphatase 189 U/L [50 – 130 U/L] Alanine transferase 70 U/L [<45 U/L] Bilirubin 37 μmol/L [<20 μmol/L] A computed tomography (CT) scan confirms multiple liver secondaries. In the last two days he has developed some leg weakness, but is still able to walk. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of his spine is shown below.The most appropriate next step in his management is:
Answer
  • A. systemic chemotherapy.
  • B. external beam radiotherapy.
  • C. best supportive care.
  • D. decompression laminectomy.
  • E. strontium.
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