A 22-year-old woman adopted a cat. Shortly thereafter, she developed itchy eyes and persistent rhinorrhea. She was clearly allergic to the pet, but desperately wanted to keep it. She tried taking diphenhydramine, but it had intolerable side effects. Which of the following is a common effect of this type of medication?
Correct Answer: C
Diphenhydramine possesses anticholinergic properties. Xerostomia, or dry mouth, is a common side effect of anti-cholinergic medications, due to anti-muscarinic, parasympatholytic effects. Other adverse reactions may include: * Mydriasis with blurred vision, photophobia * Urinary retention * Constipation * Anhidrosis * Hyperthermia * Tachycardia * Altered mental status A commonly referenced mnemonic for anti-cholinergic toxicity is "mad as a hatter, red as a beet, dry as a bone, hot as a hare, blind as a bat" to reflect confusion, flushing, dry mouth, hyperthermia and mydriasis, respectively.
Question 77
Your patient is a 58-year-old male who presents with onset of severe substernal chest pain and shortness of breath. An ECG reveals an acute STEMI, and he is on his way to the cardiac catheterization suite for percutaneous coronary intervention. Which of the following drugs used in acute coronary syndromes treated with PCI must undergo oxidation by hepatic P450 enzymes to an active form?
Correct Answer: A
Explanation Clopidogrel and ticlopidine are ADP receptor pathway inhibitors. The irreversible inhibition of the ADP- dependent pathway of platelet activation is thought to be the result of covalent modification and inactivation of the platelet P2Y ADP receptor. This receptor is coupled to the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. Both drugs are prodrugs and undergo conversion to active metabolites in the liver. However, clopidogrel must undergo oxidation by hepatic P450 enzymes to its active form. This is significant because many drugs are metabolized the hepatic P450 enzymes, including statins, and clopidogrel may interact with these medications. Clopidogrel is a second-generation thienopyridine and ticlopidine is a first-generation thienopyridine. Both drugs are indicated in combination with aspirin to prevent stent thrombosis. Eptifibatide is a GPIIb-IIIa receptor antagonist that is used to treat unstable angina and non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. Eptifibatide is also used to reduce ischemic events in patients who are undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. The drug is a synthetic peptide that directly antagonizes the GPIIb-IIIa receptor on the platelet. Aspirin is an antiplatelet drug that works by inhibition of synthesis of prostaglandins. Prostaglandin G2 is the result of a synthesis pathway that is activated by platelets and endothelial cells, and results in localized vasoconstriction and induction of platelet aggregation, as well as causing release of platelet granules. Warfarin is an anticoagulant that acts on vitamin K-dependent reactions in the coagulation pathway. Vitamin K is necessary for hepatic synthesis of coagulation factors II, VII, IX and X, protein C and protein S. Vitamin K- dependent carboxylation is necessary for induction of enzymatic activity of these coagulation factors. Take- home message: Clopidogrel, a second-generation thienopyridine ADP receptor pathway inhibitor, is indicated in combination with aspirin to prevent stent thrombosis in patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention after myocardial infarction. Clopidogrel is a prodrug that must undergo oxidation by hepatic P450 enzymes, and therefore may affect the activity of statins and other drugs dependent on the hepatic P450 enzymes.
Question 78
A CD4 count of 180 cells per cubic meter may be evaluated as which of these?
Correct Answer: A
Explanation A CD4 count of 180 cells per cubic meter is considered very low - typically an indicator that the patient has an immunocompromised state, such as AIDS. CD4 counts are a measure of healthy T-cell levels. The lower the count, the more susceptible the patient is to opportunistic infections. A normal range is between 500 and 1,500 cells.
Question 79
A physician orders 300gms of albumin post paracentesis, how many milliliters of 25% albumin do you need to give 300gms?
Correct Answer: D
Explanation 25g/100ml = 300g/Xml Xml = 1200mL
Question 80
Which of the following Anti-epileptic medication can cause pancreatitis?
Correct Answer: C
Explanation Cases of life-threatening pancreatitis have been reported in both pediatric and adult patients receiving valproic acid or its analogs. Patients should be warned that abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and/or anorexia can be symptoms of pancreatitis that require prompt medical evaluation. If pancreatitis is diagnosed, valproate should be discontinued.