Atherosclerosis - thrombosis Webpath questions

A 68-year-old woman has survived multiple episodes of pulmonary thromboembolism during the past three months. On physical examination there are no abnormal findings. Which of the following is the most likely underlying condition leading to this patient's recurrent pulmonary thromboembolism? A Micronodular cirrhosis of the liver B Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas C Thrombocytopenia D Familial hypercholesterolemia E Mitral valve endocarditis F Type II diabetes mellitus

Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas The recurrent episodes suggest a hypercoagulable state, and carcinomas can do this (Trousseau syndrome) by releasing substances that act as thromboplastins. Even a small carcinoma difficult to detect can produce thromboplastic substances as a paraneoplastic phenomenon.

A 56-year-old man reports reduced exercise tolerance over the past 5 years. In the past year he has noted chest pain after ascending a flight of stairs. He smokes 2 packs of cigarettes per day. On examination he has a blood pressure of 155/95 mm Hg. His body mass index is 30 kg/m2. Laboratory findings include a total serum cholesterol of 245 mg/dL with HDL cholesterol of 22 mg/dL. Which of the following vascular abnormalities is he most likely to have? A Hyperplastic arteriolosclerosis B Lymphedema C Medial calcific sclerosis D Atherosclerosis E Deep venous thrombosis F Plexiform arteriopathy

Atherosclerosis He has multiple risk factors for atherosclerosis, including his weight, smoking, hypertension, and high total cholesterol with low 'good' HDL cholesterol. His findings suggest coronary artery disease with risk for an acute coronary syndrome.

73-year-old healthy woman who exercises regularly falls down the stairs and injures her right hip. A radiograph is taken of the pelvis. There is no fracture but the radiograph reveals calcification of the small muscular arteries lateral to her uterus. What is the probable vascular lesion which accounts for this calcification? A Ulcerative atherosclerosis B Calcific medial sclerosis C Metastatic calcification D Trauma E Dystrophic calcification

Calcific medial sclerosis Monckeberg calcific medial sclerosis can be a benign, incidental finding most commonly seen in the elderly. Small arteries in pelvis, breast, neck, and extremities are typically involved. The vascular lumen is often not compromised.

A 69-year-old woman has a history of atrial fibrillation. During the past day she has increasing right flank pain. Radiologic imaging reveals occlusion of a branch of the right renal artery. A day later there is a focal area in which the renal parenchymal cells in the distribution of the occluded artery show karyolysis and karyorrhexis. The outlines of the cells are still visible, but the nuclei have lost basophilic staining and the cytoplasm is eosinophilic but pale. Which of the following types of cellular necrosis is most likely present? A Caseous B Coagulative C Fatty D Gangrenous E Liquefactive

Coagulative A typical ischemic infarction with coagulative necrosis is described. Coagulative necrosis is most likely to occur in solid internal organs with high metabolic demands. Cardiac arrhythmias, and a-fib in particular, predisposes to left atrial mural thrombosis, with risk for embolization into the systemic circulation.

A 25-year-old man experiences chest pain on exercise when he attempts to climb three flights of stairs. This pain is relieved by sublingual nitroglycerin. He is 178 cm tall and weighs 101 kg. His blood pressure is 130/85 mm Hg. Laboratory studies show a total serum cholesterol of 550 mg/dL with an HDL cholesterol component of 25 mg/dL. The blood glucose is 120 mg/dL. He is worried about these findings because his brother died of a myocardial infarction at age 34. Which of the following conditions is this man most likely to have? A Diabetes mellitus, type II B Hypertensive emergency C Familial hypercholesterolemia D Cushing syndrome E Morbid obesity

Familial hypercholesterolemia

A 57-year-old man has had blood pressure measurements in the range of 160/95 to 180/110 mm Hg for many years. He has taken no medications. A renal scan reveals kidneys of normal size for age. These findings with benign nephrosclerosis are most likely to occur with which of the following vascular changes? A Hyaline arteriolosclerosis B Monckeberg's medial calcific sclerosis C Complex calcified atherosclerosis D Arterial mural thrombosis E Hyperplastic arteriolosclerosis

Hyaline arteriolosclerosis Hyaline arteriolosclerosis is a feature of long-standing hypertension and is part of benign nephrosclerosis which may go on for many years with no complications. The small arterioles are thickened with pink (hyaline) proteinaceous deposits.

A 44-year-old man has had elevated blood pressure for years which has not been treated. He now has severe headaches. On physical examination his blood pressure is 275/150 mm Hg. Laboratory studies show Hgb 13.8 g/dL, serum glucose 76 mg/dL, and creatinine 3.5 mg/dL. These findings are most likely to be associated with which of the following pathologic lesions involving his kidneys? A Hyperplastic arteriolosclerosis B Hyaline arteriolosclerosis C Monckeberg medial calcific sclerosis D Atherosclerosis E Thrombophlebitis

Hyperplastic arteriolosclerosis Hyperplastic arteriolosclerosis is seen in the setting of hypertensive emergency (malignant hypertension) when systolic pressure is ≥180 and/or diastolic pressure ≥120 mmHg along with signs of acute or ongoing end-organ damage, and renal failure is common.

A 30-year-old man goes to his physician for a routine health checkup. On physical examination there are no abnormal findings. Laboratory test findings include serum glucose 80 mg/dL, hemoglobin A1C 4%, total cholesterol 240 mg/dL, LDL cholesterol 180 mg/dL, and HDL cholesterol 20 mg/dL. Through which of the following mechanisms is endothelial vascular injury in this patient most likely to occur? A Accumulation of sorbitol B Insudation of lipid C Inflammation with neutrophils D Deposition of immunoglobulins E Activation of complement

Insudation of lipid He has hypercholesterolemia with more of the 'bad' LDL cholesterol that can become oxidized and taken up by modified arterial wall LDL receptors. The lipid collects in macrophages that transform to foam cells. These foam cells accumulate and becomes a lipid lesion--the precursor to more serious atheromatous plaques.

A 58-year-old woman has the sudden onset of severe dyspnea with chest pain and diaphoresis. A chest CT scan shows areas of decreased attenuation within the main pulmonary arteries. Her D-dimer assay is elevated. Her acute event is most likely to be a consequence of which of the following? A Placement of a hip prosthesis B Marked thrombocytopenia C Chronic alcoholism D Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus E Rheumatoid arthritis

Placement of a hip prosthesis Immobilization is a major risk for the development of venous thrombosis and subsequent pulmonary embolization (the areas of diminished attenuation). Immobilization occurs following surgery. The postoperative goal: get the patient mobile as soon as possible, and meanwhile employ methods to reduce the risk for thrombosis.

A 53-year-old woman is found on a routine physical examination to have vital signs with T 37°C, P 78/minute, RR 16/minute, and BP 165/110 mm Hg. There are no other significant findings. She has an abdominal ultrasound examination that shows the right kidney to be atrophic. Angiography reveals markedly reduced blood flow to the right renal artery from an occlusion at the orifice in the abdominal aorta. Which of the following laboratory findings is she most likely to have? A Serum sodium of 161 mmol/L B Serologic evidence of anti-cardiolipin antibody C Prothrombin time of 25 seconds D Plasma renin activity of 4.8 ng/mL/hr supine E Serum lactic acid of 5.5 mmol/L

Plasma renin activity of 4.8 ng/mL/hr supine She has renal artery stenosis that is reducing renal blood flow on the right and simulating the JG cells to secrete renin to try and raise blood pressure to increase renal blood flow.

A 61-year-old man has the sudden onset of severe chest pain. Vital signs include T 37°C, P 102/minute, RR 20/minute, and BP 80/40 mm Hg. An electrocardiogram demonstrates changes that are consistent with myocardial ischemia involving the left lateral ventricular free wall. He is given thrombolytic therapy with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) 3 hours after the onset of chest pain. However his serum troponin is found to be 4 ng/mL three hours after this therapy. Which of the following cellular events has most likely occurred? A Cellular regeneration B Drug-induced necrosis C Reperfusion injury D Increased synthesis of troponin E Myofiber atrophy

Reperfusion injury The restoration of blood flow is helpful if the existing cell damage is not great, so further damage can be prevented. However, the reperfusion of damaged cells results in generation of oxygen free radicals to produce a reperfusion injury.

A 70-year-old healthy woman has a check of her health status. On examination her blood pressure is 125/80 mm Hg and BMI 24 kg/m2. Laboratory studies show her serum total cholesterol is 180 mg/dL with LDL cholesterol 90 mg/dL. There is a family history of cancer. Which of the following is a constitutional risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease in this woman? A Age B Blood pressure C Family history D Gender E Hyperlipidemia F Weight

age Her age is a risk factor for atherosclerosis. However, a healthy lifestyle can negate this risk. Many older persons are not pursuing a healthy lifestyle.

A 57-year-old woman has had episodes of abdominal pain following meals for the past year. Her BMI is 31 kg/m2. She her blood pressure is 165/110 mg Hg. Her total serum cholesterol is 256 mg/dL. Which of the following types of blood vessel is the most likely location for the pathologic abnormality causing her pain? A Artery B Arteriole C Capillary D Venule E Vein

artery She has abdominal angina from vascular insufficiency. She has multiple risk factors for atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis occurs in muscular arteries, because the level of blood pressure in arteries predisposes to endothelial dysfunction.

A longitudinal study is conducted to detect serum markers that predict risk for death from acute coronary syndromes. A marker is identified that is synthesized and released from the liver in response to formation of cytokines in atheromatous plaques. This marker increases endothelial adhesiveness to platelets. What is this marker most likely to be? A Prostacyclin B Immunoglobulin G C C-reactive protein D Alpha-1-antitrypsin E Acetoacetate

c-reactive protein An increased CRP predicts a greater likelihood for adverse events from atherogenesis. One benefit of 'statin' drugs is their CRP lowering effect.

A 66-year-old man with Parkinson disease develops pleuritic chest pain. On exam, he has guarding over the right lower lung with dullness to percussion. A chest CT scan shows a focal, wedge-shaped pleural based area of hemorrhage in the right lower lobe. Which of the following is the most likely cause for his pulmonary lesion? A Embolism B Atherosclerosis C Vasculitis D Arteriolosclerosis E Thrombosis

embolism A pulmonary infarction is described. A thromboembolus from the venous circulation, usually arising in large leg veins, has lodged in a peripheral pulmonary arterial branch. The bronchial arterial supply to the lung does not provide enough oxygenation to prevent infarction, but does provide blood to make the infarct hemorrhagic. His neurodegenerative disorder with reduced movement is a risk for immobilization as a risk for phlebothrombosis.

A study of atherogenesis is performed. There is a propensity for atheromas to form at muscular arterial branch points, such as the carotid and aortic bifurcations. Which of the following events in the arteries at these locations is most likely to initiate atherogenesis? A Collagen synthesis B Endothelial dysfunction C Lactic acidosis D Cholesterol breakdown E Hypoxemia

endothelial dysfunction A variety of stressors may affect endothelial cells, including the shear stress from turbulent flow at arterial branch points. Endothelial dysfunction is the initiating event that allows insudation of lipids to promote atherogenesis.

An autopsy study reveals that evidence for atheroma formation can begin even in children. The gross appearances of the aortas are recorded and compared with microscopic findings of atheroma formation. Which of the following is most likely to be the first visible gross evidence for the formation of an atheroma? A Thrombus B Fatty streak C Calcification D Hemorrhage E Exudate F Ulceration

fatty streak

A 54-year-old previously healthy woman is hospitalized for pneumonia. On the 10th hospital day she is found to have swelling and tenderness of her right leg, which has developed over the past 48 hours. Raising the leg elicits pain. An ultrasound examination reveals findings suggestive of femoral vein thrombosis. Which of the following conditions is most likely to have contributed the most to the appearance of these findings? A Trousseau syndrome B Protein C deficiency C Immobilization D Pregnancy E Chronic alcohol abuse F Hypertension

immbolization The immobilization while in hopsital would predispose to thrombosis of leg veins. This is the most common cause for deep venous thrombosis.

A 29-year-old woman is involved in a motor vehicle accident that results in severe lacerations to her lower extremities, along with blunt abdominal trauma. In the emergency room she is noted to have cool, pallid skin. She has vital signs showing T 36.9°C, P 110/minute, RR 26/minute, and BP 70/30 mm Hg. She has decreased urine output. Which of the following laboratory findings on a blood sample from this patient is most likely to be present? A Hematocrit of 54% B Glucose of 181 mg/dL C PaO2 of 20 mm Hg D Lactic acid of 4.8 mmol/L E Troponin I of 4 ng/mL

lactic acid of 4.8 mmol/L She has marked blood loss with shock. There will be vasoconstriction in skin and soft tissue in response to the hypovolemia. Decreased renal blood flow from shock may lead to acute tubular necrosis. The lack of tissue perfusion with shock leads to increased anaerobic glycolysis and lactic acidosis.

A 53-year-old man has the sudden onset of chest pain. He is found to have a serum troponin I of 5 ng/mL. A year later he has reduced exercise tolerance. An echocardiogram reveals an akinetic segment of left ventricle, and he has reduced cardiac output, with an ejection fraction of 25%. He then experiences a transient ischemic attack (TIA). His serum troponin I is now <0.5 ng/mL. Thrombus formation involving which of the following locations is most likely to have put him at greatest risk for the TIA? A Cerebral vein B Vertebral artery C Superior vena cava D Left ventricle E Coronary artery F Saphenous vein

left ventricle Mural thrombi can form over the damaged area of ventricular wall following myocardial infarction. This can happen acutely overlying the necrotic myocardium; it can occur remotely in a ventricular aneurysm. Portions of the mural thrombus can break off and embolize via the systemic arterial circulation to places such as the cerebral circulation.

A 62-year-old man has experienced substernal chest pain upon exertion with increasing frequency over the past 6 months. An electrocardiogram shows features consistent with ischemic heart disease. He has a total serum cholesterol of 262 mg/dL. By angiography, there is 75% narrowing of two major coronary arteries. In which of the following locations is a mural thrombus most likely to occur in this man? A Left atrium B Left ventricle C Right atrium D Right ventricle E Aorta F Vena cava

left ventricle The left ventricle is the major user of oxygen and nutrients and requires a good blood supply. A complication of ischemic heart disease with infarction is development of overlying mural thrombus. Such mural thrombi are likely to result from damage to the left ventricle from ischemic heart disease, either acutely with an underlying myocardial infarction, or with a left ventricular aneurysm formed following resolution of a large myocardial infarction

A 63-year-old man has had increasing exercise intolerance for the past 6 years so that he now becomes short of breath upon climbing a single flight of stairs. Laboratory studies have shown fasting blood glucose measurements from 145 to 210 mg/dL for the past 25 years, but he has not sought medical treatment. If he dies suddenly, which of the following is most likely to be the immediate cause of death? A Myocardial infarction B Nodular glomerulosclerosis C Cerebral hemorrhage D Hyperosmolar coma E Right lower leg gangrene

myocardial infarction This is the most common cause of death in persons with diabetes mellitus, because of the high prevalence of advanced coronary atherosclerosis.

During a week of hospitalization, a 40-year-old woman develops left femoral vein thrombophlebitis. She recovers and is discharged. She returns to her job as an electrician. A month later she is healthy with no ongoing medical problems. Which of the following terms best describes the process seen in her femoral vein a month following her thrombophlebitis? A Acute inflammation B Rupture C Embolization D Organization E Propagation

organization Thrombi may either lyse or will organize over time, with much of the clot eventually removed and the vascular lumen restored.

A 66-year-old woman has the sudden loss of movement on part of the left side of her body. She has vital signs including T 37.1°C, P 80/minute, RR 16/minute, and BP 160/100 mm Hg. A cerebral angiogram reveals occlusion of a branch of her middle cerebral artery. Laboratory findings include a hemoglobin A1C of 9%. She has smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for the past 45 years. Which of the following components of blood lipids is most important in contributing to her disease? A Chylomicrons B Lipoprotein lipase C Oxidized LDL D VLDL E HDL cholesterol

oxidized LDL She has had a 'stroke' which is most often a consequence of cerebral atherosclerosis or embolic disease from the heart as a consequence of ischemic heart disease from atherosclerosis. LDL brings cholesterol to arterial walls, and when increased LDL is present or when there is hypertension, smoking, and diabetes, there is more degradation of LDL to oxidized LDL which is taken up into arterial walls via scavenger receptors in macrophages to help form atheromas