Chemistry Flashcards
AST is mainly found in what tissues?
Cardiac muscle.
Liver.
Skeletal muscle.
A threefold elevation in AST can mean what?
Liver disease.
Rhabdomyolysis.
At what time of day are AST and ALT highest?
In the afternoon.
Tissues that contain LD1 and LD2.
Heart.
Red blood cells.
Kidneys.
Tissues that contain LD4 and LD5.
Liver.
Skeletal muscle.
Tissues that contain LD3.
Lungs.
Spleen.
Lymphocytes.
Pancreas.
How to establish the hepatobiliary origin of alkaline phosphatase.
Measure 5’ nucleotidase or GGT.
Which isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase is most susceptible to heat and urea?
The isoenzyme of bone.
Which isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase are most susceptible to L-phenylalanine?
The isoenzymes of placenta and intestine.
Physiological causes of elevated alkaline phosphatase (3).
Pregnancy.
Bone growth.
Postprandial state in group O or group B Lewis-positive secretors.
Medications that can raise the alkaline phosphatase.
Oral contraceptives.
NSAIDS.
Main source of 5’ nucleotidase.
Biliary epithelium.
Main sources of ammonia.
Skeletal muscle and gut.
Hyperammonemia: Causes in adults (3).
Liver failure.
Bypass of portal circulation.
Protein overload in the gut.
Hyperammonemia: Pediatric cause.
Inborn error of metabolism.
Hyperammonemia: Surgical cause.
Ureterosigmoidostomy.
Hyperammonemia: Microbiological cause.
Infection with urea-splitting organisms.
Hyperammonemia: Pharmacological causes.
Valproic acid.
TPN.
Origin of urobilinogen.
Bacterial metabolism of conjugated bilirubin in the gut.
What is δ-bilirubin?
Bilirubin that is covalently bound to albumin as a result of prolonged hyperbilirubinemia.
Very slowly cleared from the blood.
How is conjugated bilirubin measured?
Directly, i.e. without the use of an accelerator.
How is unconjugated bilirubin measured?
Use of an accelerator (alcohol) permits all bilirubin to be measured.
Total bilirubin − conjugated bilirubin = unconjugated bilirubin.
Conditions that increase the delivery of unconjugated bilirubin to the liver.
Right heart failure.
Cirrhosis.
Gilbert’s syndrome:
A. Definition.
B. Drugs that cause a similar condition.
A. Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia due to mildly impaired conjugation; uptake of unconjugated bilirubin by the hepatocyte may also be impaired.
B. Rifampin, probenecid.
Crigler-Najjar syndrome:
A. Definition.
B. Cause of secondary disease.
A. Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia due to impaired conjugation within the hepatocytes.
B. Hypothyroidism.
Dubin-Johnson syndrome:
A. Definition.
B. Pharmacological causes.
A. Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia due to impaired secretion into the canaliculus.
B. Estrogen, cyclosporine.
Cholestasis leads to what type of hyperbilirubinemia?
Conjugated.
Cholestatic vs. hepatocellular jaundice: Which one causes ___?
A. a greater elevation of alkaline phosphatase
B. a greater elevation of AST and ALT
C. elevated cholesterol
D. pruritus
A,C,D: Cholestatic.
B: Hepatocellular.
Relation of elevated PT to liver disease.
Indicates severe impairment of hepatocellular synthetic function.
Effect on immunoglobulins of
A. Autoimmune hepatitis.
B. Primary biliary cirrhosis.
A. Elevated IgG.
B. Elevated IgM.
Effect of liver disease on the ratio of serum albumin to serum immunoglobulins.
Decreased due to decreased albumin and increased immunoglobulins.
Physiologic neonatal jaundice:
A. Time of onset.
B. Velocity of rise in total bilirubin.
C. Time of peak of total bilirubin.
D. Usual maximum of total bilirubin.
A. About 2-3 days after delivery.
B. No more than 5 mg/dL/day.
C. Usually by day 4 or 5 after delivery.
D. No more than 20 mg/dL.
Pathological neonatal jaundice:
A. Time of onset.
B. Velocity of rise of total bilirubin.
C. Time of peak of total bilirubin.
D. Value of conjugated bilirubin.
A. Sometimes within the first 24 hours after delivery.
B. More than 5 mg/dL/day.
C. May continue to rise for more than a week.
D. >2 mg/dL.
Pathologic jaundice: Leading causes.
Sepsis.
Hemolytic disease of the newborn.
In uncomplicated pancreatitis, when does serum amylase rise and return to normal?
Rise: 2-24 hours.
Return to normal: 2-3 days.
Possible meaning of a prolonged rise in serum amylase with pancreatitis.
A complication such as a pseudocyst.
Relation of high serum amylase to pancreatitis.
Does not correlate with severity of pancreatitis but is more specific for pancreatitis.
Serum lipase:
A. How long it stays elevated in pancreatitis.
B. Advantages over serum amylase.
A. Up to 14 days.
B. More specific for pancreatitis; not affected by renal clearance.
Normal serum amylase in pancreatitis:
A. How often?
B. Associated types of pancreatitis.
A. In about 10% of cases.
B. Alcoholic; chronic relapsing.
Nonpancreatic causes of elevated serum amylase (9).
DKA.
Acute cholecystitis.
Peptic ulcer disease.
Bowel obstruction.
Bowel ischemia.
Ectopic pregancy.
Salpingitis.
Renal insufficiency.
Macroamylasemia.
Ranson’s criteria upon admission:
Age: >55 years.
WBC >16,000.
AST >250.
LDH >350.
Glucose >200.
Ranson’s criteria: After admission.
48 hours after admission:
Increase in BUN >5 mg/dL. Calcium less than 8 mg/dL. PaO₂ less than 60 mmHg. Base deficit greater than 4 mEq/L. Fluid sequestration >6 L. Decrease in hematocrit >10%.
72-hour quantitation of fecal fat:
A. Procedure.
B. Interpretation.
A. High-fat diet is given for 3 days before collection and during the 3 days of the collection.
B. Fecal fat >20 g/day suggests exocrine pancreatic dysfunction.
Fluid chemistry: Pancreatic pseudocyst.
Elevated amylase and CA 19-9.
Normal CEA.
Fluid chemistry: Serous cystadenoma.
Deceased amylase, CA 19-9, CEA.
Fluid chemistry: Mucinous cystic neoplasm.
Elevated CEA, CA 19-9.
Normal amylase.
Fluid chemistry: Intraductal papillary neoplasm.
Elevated amylase, CEA.
Normal or elevated CA 19-9.
Fluid chemistry: Solid-cystic tumor.
Decreased amylase, CA 19-9, CEA.
Isoenzymes of creatine kinase.
CK-BB: Brain; fastest migration.
CK-MB: Mostly cardiac muscle; intermediate migration.
CK-MM: Mostly skeletal muscle; slowest.
Relative index:
A. Definition.
B. Interpretation.
A. Ratio of CK-MB to total CK.
B. A value >5% implies cardiac origin.
Macro-CK (type 1): Clinical association; migration.
Found in healthy elderly women.
Faster than CK-MM but slower than CK-MB.
Macro-CK, type 2:
A. Synonym.
B. Migration.
C. Clinical association.
A. Mitochondrial CK.
B. Slower than MM.
C. May be seen in advanced malignancy.
Troponin: Reference value.
Everything up to the 99th percentile.
Troponin: Non-ischemic cardiac causes of elevation (3).
Pericarditis.
Myocarditis.
Heart failure.
Troponin: Non-cardiac causes of elevation (5).
Pulmonary embolism.
Intracranial insults.
Shock.
Sepsis.
Renal insufficiency.
Troponin: Causes of analytical false positives.
Heterophile antibodies.
Fibrin.
Diagnosis of myocardial infarction: Abnormal initial troponin value.
Requires at least 20% elevation in cardiac TnI at 3 or 6 hours, plus supporting clinical evidence.
Diagnosis of myocardial infarction: Normal initial troponin value.
Requires at least a 50% increase in cardiac TnI at 3 or 6 hours, plus supporting clinical evidence.
Indication that elevated troponin may be of non-cardiac origin.
Chronic elevation.
Half-lives of BNP and NT-pro-BNP.
BNP: 20 minutes.
NT-Pro-BNP: 1-2 hours.
Albumin: Half-life.
17 days.
Prealbumin: Half-life.
48 hours.
Prealbumin: Functions.
Transport of the complex of vitamin A and retinoic-acid-binding protein.
Transport of thyroxine.
Prealbumin: Appearance of band on electrophoresis.
Serum: Inconspicuous.
CNS: Prominent.
How acute inflammation affects the serum proteins.
Albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin are decreased.
γ-globulins may be normal or decreased.
Everything else is increased.
How chronic inflammation affects the serum proteins.
Decreased: Albumin, prealbumin.
Increased: Everything else.
α₁ band of SPEP: Main component.
α₁-Antitrypsin.
α₂ band of SPEP: Main components.
α₂-Macroglobulin.
Haptoglobin.
Ceruloplasmin.
β₁ band of SPEP: Main component.
Transferrin.
β₂ band of SPEP: Main components.
IgA, C3.
γ band of SPEP: Main components.
Immunoglobulins, CRP.
Proteins found at the interfaces between bands on SPEP.
Albumin-α₁: HDL.
α₁-α₂: GC globulin, α₁-antichymotrypsin, α₁-acid glycoprotein.
α₂-β₂: Hemoglobin if there is hemolysis.
β₁-β₂: LDL.
β₂-γ: Fibrinogen if there is incomplete clotting.
Significance of α₂-macroglobulin (2).
Elevated in renal disease and liver disease.
Retained in the nephrotic syndrome.
Transferrin: Appearance on CSF electrophoresis.
Double peak due to partial asialation (to form the tau protein).
CRP: Analytic sensitivity of highly sensitive assays.
Detect as little as 0.5 mg/L.
CRP: Stratification of values.
3-10 mg/dL: Associated with low-level chronic inflammation and poor outcomes from cardiovascular events.
Greater than 10 mg/dL: Associated with inflammation and collagen-vascular diseases.
Less than 3 mg/dL: Normal.
SPEP: Nephrotic syndrome.
Fading of all bands except that of α₂-macroglobulin.
SPEP pattern: Acute inflammation.
Increased α₁ and α₂ bands.
Normal or decreased γ-globulins.
Everything else is decreased.
SPEP pattern: Cirrhosis.
Decreased albumin.
β-γ bridging.
Blunting of α₁ and α₂ bands.
Biclonal gammopathy:
A. Incidence.
B. Most common with which immunoglobulin?
A. 3-4% of M proteins.
B. IgA (because of monomers and dimers).
Pseudo-M spike: Causes (7).
Hemoglobin. Fibrin. Excess transferrin. Excess CRP. Excess of tumor markers, esp. CA 19-9. Certain antibiotics. Radiocontrast agents.
SPEP: Typical location of
A. IgG.
B. IgA.
C. IgM.
A. γ region.
B. β₂ region.
C. β-γ interface.
UPEP pattern: Glomerular proteinuria.
Bands at albumin and α₁ regions.
UPEP pattern: Tubular proteinuria.
Loss of small proteins that are normally filtered by the tubules, e.g. β₂-microglobulin, α₁-microglobulin, and light-chain immunoglobulins.
Causes of overflow proteinuria.
Hemoglobinuria.
Myoglobinuria.
Bence Jones proteins.
Type I cryoglobulins:
A. Definition.
B. Clinical associations.
A. Monoclonal immunoglobulins.
B. Multiple myeloma, Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia.
Type II cryoglobulins:
A. Definition.
B. Clinical association.
A. Monoclonal IgM + polyclonal IgG.
B. Rheumatoid arthritis: The monoclonal IgM often has specificity for the Fc portion of IgG.
Type III cryoglobulins:
A. Definition.
B. Clinical association.
A. Polyclonal IgG and polyclonal IgM.
B. Rheumatoid arthritis.
Which cryoglobulins are considered mixed?
Types II and III.
Mixed cryoglobulinemias: Clinical associations (5).
Hepatitis C.
Chronic liver disease.
Chronic infections.
Lymphoproliferative disorders.
Autoimmune diseases.
Mixed cryoglobulinemias: Manifestations of the systemic immune-complex disease (7).
Palpable purpura (LCV). Arthralgias. Hepatosplenomegaly. Lymphadenopathy. Anemia. Sensorineural deficits. Glomerulonephritis.
Mixed cryoglobulinemias:
A. Most common type of renal disease.
B. How this disease appears on EM.
A. Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, type II.
B. Subendothelial electron-dense deposits in a fingerprint-like pattern.
SPEP: Usual pH.
8.6.
Immunofixation electophoresis: Steps.
- Patient’s sample is placed in 6 wells.
- Electric current is applied.
- Antisera for IgG, IgA, IgM, and κ and λ light chains are added.
Steps of immunophenotyping (immunofixation).
- Patient’s sample is added.
- Microspheres with bound antibodies to IgG, IgA, IgM, and κ and λ light chain are added.
- Electric current is applied.
- Where the abnormal spike disappeared, one can see which bead took it away.
Cause of spurious hyponatremia.
Drawing the sample proximal to an intravenous or central line.
Pseudohyponatremia:
A. Type of analyzer affected.
B. Causes.
A. Any that uses the indirect method, in which the sample must be diluted first.
B. Hyperproteinemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia.
Pseudohyponatremia: Effect on osmolality and osmolality gap.
Osmolality is normal, but there is an increased osmolality gap.
Hypertonic hyponatremia: Causes.
Hyperglycemia.
Mannitol.
Hyponatremia due to hyperglycemia: Correction factor.
ΔNa = [1.6 × (serum glucose - 100)] / 100.
In the setting of true hypo-osmotic hyponatremia, what suggests that renal disease may be the cause?
Urine Na >30 mEq/L.
Hypovolemic hypo-osmotic hyponatremia: Causes (8).
Urine Na below 30: Vomiting, diarrhea, third-spacing.
Urine Na above 30: Diuretics, renal insufficiency, adrenal insufficiency, renal tubular acidosis, cerebral salt-wasting syndrome.
Euvolemic hypo-osmotic hyponatremia: Causes (5).
Urine Na below 30: Psychogenic polydipsia.
Urine Na above 30: SIADH, hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, drugs (desmopressin, SSRIs, TCAs, MDMA, chlorpropamide).
Hypervolemic hypo-osmotic hyponatremia: Causes (4).
Cirrhosis.
Nephrosis.
CHF.
Renal failure.
Hypernatremia: Basic etiologies.
Inability to drink water.
Iatrogenic.
Diabetes insipidus.
Central diabetes insipidus: Causes.
Mass or trauma affecting the neurohypophysis and/or the hypothalamus.
Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus: Causes (6).
Renal medullary disease. Hypercalcemia. Hypokalemia. Renal tubular acidosis. Fanconi's syndrome.
Drugs: Demeclocycline, lithium, gentamicin, amphotericin B.
Hypokalemia is associated with which types of renal tubular acidosis?
Types 1 and 2.
Hypokalemia: Five eponymous diseases that can cause it.
Bartter’s syndrome.
Gitelman’s syndrome.
Liddle’s syndrome.
Cushing’s syndrome.
Conn’s syndrome.
Hypokalemia can result from what other electrolyte abnormality?
Hypomagnesemia.
Hypokalemia: How to recognize a possible renal cause.
Urine K >30 mEq/day.
Hypokalemia: Nonrenal causes (3).
GI losses: Vomiting, diarrhea, villous adenoma, nasogastric suction.
Metabolic alkalosis.
Correction of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Hyperkalemia: Artifactual causes in vitro.
Leukocytosis.
Clotting.
Hemolysis.
Hyperkalemia: Artifactual causes during phlebotomy.
Blood draw proximal to infusion of potassium.
Excessive fist clenching.
Prolonged use of tourniquet.
Use of small-bore needle.
Traumatic blood draw.
True hyperkalemia: Causes (6).
Acidosis.
Addison’s disease.
Iatrogenic.
Potassium-sparing diuretics.
Renal failure.
Rhabdomyolysis.
Relation between hyperkalemia and acidosis.
Acidosis is nearly always associated with hyperkalemia.
Exception: Renal tubular acidosis, types 1 and 2.
How much of calcium is bound to albumin?
About 50%.
How does pH affect the amount of free calcium?
Acidosis increases it.
Alkalosis decreases it.
Hypercalcemia: Finding on EKG.
High-peaked T waves.
Hypercalcemia: Neurological manifestations.
Lethargy.
Slowed mentation.
Depression.
Hyporeflexia.
Hypercalcemia: Possible gastroenterological complications.
Peptic-ulcer disease.
Pancreatitis.
Primary hyperparathyroidism: Laboratory findings (4).
Hypercalcemia.
Hypophosphatemia.
Increased ratio of chloride to phosphate.
Increased urinary cAMP.
Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy: Causes (6).
SCC. HCC. RCC. T-ALL. Breast carcinoma. Hypercalemic variant of small-cell carcinoma of the ovary.
Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia: Gene and its location.
CASR (calcium-sensing receptor) on 3q21.1.
Type of diuretic associated with hypercalcemia.
Thiazide.
Endocrinological causes of hypercalcemia (3).
Addison’s disease.
Acromegaly.
Hyperthyroidism.
Forms of parathyroid hormone: Biological activities and half-lives.
Intact and N-terminal: Active; 5 minutes.
C-terminal and mid-portion: Inactive; longer half-life.
Hypocalcemia: Findings on EKG.
Low-voltage T waves.
Prolonged QT interval.
Dysrhythmias.
Leading cause of primary hypoparathyroidism.
Iatrogenic.
Relationship between hypomagnesemia and PTH secretion.
Transient or mild hypomagnesemia may stimulate secretion.
Prolonged or severe hypomagnesemia may suppress it.
Hypocalcemia: Genetic cause.
DiGeorge’s syndrome.
Classes of diuretics that may cause hypocalcemia.
Loop diuretics.
Osmotic diuretics.
How renal failure can lead to hypocalcemia.
The excess serum phosphate chelates the calcium.
Acidemia vs. acidosis.
Acidemia: Acidic pH of the blood.
Acidosis: A condition that will lead to acidemia unless there is compensation.
Henderson-Hasselbalch equation.
pH = pKa + log([base]/[acid]).
7.4 = 6.1 + log[(24)/(0.03 × 40)].
Clue that a given acid-base disorder may be metabolic (or respiratory).
Metabolic: pH and bicarbonate move in the same direction.
Respiratory: pH and bicarbonate move in opposite directions.
Anion gap: Formula.
AG = [Na] − [Cl] − [bicarbonate].
Why is the anion gap normal in some forms of metabolic acidosis?
Because the chloride is elevated.
Causes of a decreased anion gap.
Hypoalbuminemia.
Paraproteinemia.
Osmolal gap: Formula and normal value.
OG = Measured osmolality − (2[Na] − [glucose]/18 − [BUN]/2.8).
Normal value: <10.
Causes of metabolic acidosis with an increased anion gap.
Methanol. Uremia. Diabetic ketoacidosis. Paraldehyde. Alcoholic ketoacidosis. Lactic acidosis. Ethylene glycol. Salicylates.
Causes of metabolic acidosis with a normal anion gap.
Diarrhea. Renal tubular acidosis. Ureterosigmoidostomy. NH₄Cl. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.
TPN.
Recovery from diabetic ketoacidosis.
Causes of an increased osmolal gap with metabolic acidosis.
Ethylene glycol, propylene glycol.
Methanol.
Paraldehyde.
Ethanol (sometimes).
Causes of increased osmolal gap without metabolic acidosis.
Isopropanol. Mannitol. Acetone. Glycerol. Ethanol (sometimes). Sorbitol.
How to tell whether metabolic alkalosis will respond to chloride.
Urine Cl less than 10 mEq/L: Responsive.
Urine Cl greater than 10 mEq/L: Resistant.
Causes of chloride-responsive metabolic alkalosis.
Diuretics. Vomiting. Villous adenoma. Nasogastric suction. Carbenicillin. Contraction alkalosis.
Causes of chloride-resistant metabolic alkalosis.
Bartter's syndrome. Milk-alkali syndrome. Cushing's syndrome. Hyperaldosteronism. Exogenous corticosteroids. Licorice.
Relationship between BUN and GFR.
The BUN underestimates the GFR, especially at higher concentrations of BUN.
Azotemia vs. uremia.
Azotemia: Elevated BUN.
Uremia: Azotemia with toxic effects.
Relationship between creatinine and GFR.
The creatinine overestimates the GFR, especially at higher concentrations of creatinine.
Creatinine clearance: Formula, typical reference range (including units).
CrCl = (urine creatinine ÷ plasma creatinine) × (urine volume ÷ time).
80-120 mL/minute.
At what point does the relationship between creatinine and GFR become linear?
When GFR is about half normal.
Nonglomerular influences on creatinine.
Muscle mass.
Muscle activity.
Muscle injury.
Protein intake.
Age, race, gender.
Ratio of BUN to creatinine: Normal.
About 10 to 1.
Ratio of BUN to creatinine: Causes of high value.
Prerenal azotemia.
Early postrenal azotemia.
Ratio of BUN to creatinine: Types of renal failure with a normal value.
Intrarenal azotemia.
Late postrenal azotemia.
Cystostatin C: Utility.
Estimates the GFR.
Strongly predicts cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic renal disease.
Proteinuria:
A. Normal value.
B. Definition of “significant proteinuria”.
A. 150 mg/day.
B. >300 mg/day.
Value of a random urine sample in screening for proteinuria.
A random urine protein and a concurrent urine creatinine are as good as a 24-hour urine protein in screening for proteinuria.
Proteinuria:
A. Sensitivity of the urine dipstick.
B. Sensitivity of the microalbuminuria screen.
A. 30 mg/dL.
B. 0.3 mg/dL.
Significant microalbuminuria:
A. Type of specimen.
B. Measured analytes and their units.
A. Random urine.
B. Albumin and creatinine in mg/g.
β₂-microglobulin and lysozyme.
A. Handling by the nephron.
B. Clinical utility.
A. Freely filtered by the glomerulus and completely reabsorbed by the tubules.
B. Their presence in the urine suggests renal tubular dysfunction.
Who should be testing annually for chronic kidney disease (according to the National Kidney Foundation)?
Those with diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of renal disease.
Chronic kidney disease: Recommended screening tests.
Microalbuminuria screen.
Estimated GFR.
Chronic kidney disease: Definition.
Estimated GFR <60
- or -
Microalbuminuria for 3 consecutive months.
Chronic kidney disease: Stages.
Stage 1: GFR >90 but with microalbuminuria.
Stage 2: GFR between 60 and 89.
Stage 3: GFR between 30 and 59.
Stage 4: GFR between 15 and 29.
Stage 5 (renal failure): GFR below 15, or dialysis dependent
Acute renal failure: Three basic types.
Prerenal, intrarenal, postrenal.
Intrarenal acute renal failure: Leading causes.
Acute glomerulonephritis.
Acute tubular necrosis.
Acute tubular necrosis: Leading causes.
Ischemia, toxins.
Urinary sediment: Glomerulonephritis.
Dysmorphic red cells, red-cell casts.
Urinary sediment: Acute tubular necrosis.
Tubular casts.
Urinary sediment: Pyelonephritis.
White-cell casts.
Urinary sediment: Allergic interstitial nephritis.
Eosinophils.
Drugs that cause acute tubular necrosis.
Contrast agents, aminoglycosides, amphotericin B.
Drugs that cause acute glomerular injury.
Cyclosporine, penicillamine.
Drugs that cause acute tubulointerstitial nephritis.
NSAIDs.
Fraction excretion of sodium: Formula.
FENa = (urine Na × plasma Cr) / (urine Cr × plasma Na).
Prerenal vs. intrarenal acute renal failure:
A. Ratio of BUN to creatinine.
B. Fractional excretion of sodium.
C. Fractional excretion of urea.
A. Prerenal: >10 to 1; intrarenal: about 10 to 1.
B. Prerenal: Less than 1%.
C. Prerenal: Less than 35%.
Hepatorenal syndrome: Frequent cause.
Profound fluids shifts resulting from treatment of ascites.
Bilirubin: Maximal absorbance by scanning spectrophotometry.
450 nm.
Oxyhemoglobin: Maximal absorbance.
About 410 nm.
Amniotic-fluid bilirubin: Range at which absorbances are measured.
340 to 560 nm.
What is the ΔOD450?
The difference between the measured absorbance at 450 nm and the theoretical absorbance based on the assumption that amniotic fluid contains no pigment.
What is a Liley chart used for?
To estimate the severity of fetal hemolysis. The ΔOD450 is plotted against the gestational age.
hCG: Molecular structure.
α subunit: Shared with FSH, LH, and TSH.
β subunit: Unique.
hCG: Leading cause of false positives.
Heterophile antibodies.
hCG: Conditions associated with pituitary production.
Pituitary tumor.
Postmenopausal state.
hCG: When it becomes detectable in a normal gestation.
At about 6-8 days after conception.
hCG: Phase and frequency of doubling.
About every 48 hours during the first trimester.
hCG: Peak during normal gestation.
About 100,000 mIU/mL near the end of the first trimester, followed by a slight decline and a plateau early in the 2nd trimester.
hCG: Causes of high value in an intrauterine pregnancy (4).
Multiple gestation.
Polyhydramnios.
Eclampsia.
Hemolytic disease of the fetus.
hCG: Clue to an ectopic pregnancy.
Failure to rise at least 66% within 48 hours.
However, this can be seen in up to 20% of normal pregnancies, and up to 20% of ectopic pregnancies show a normal rise in hCG.
hCG: Level after removal of
A. Ectopic pregnancy.
B. Uncomplicated molar pregnancy.
A. Can remain elevated for several weeks.
B. Can remain elevated for up to 10 weeks.
hCG: Schedule of monitoring after removal of uncomplicated molar pregnancy.
hCG is measured weekly until undetectable for 3 weeks, and then monthly for 1 year.
“Quad” screen:
A. Components.
B. When performed.
C. Sensitivity for detection of Down’s syndrome.
A. hCG, AFP, unconjugated estradiol, dimeric inhibin A.
B. At 18 weeks of gestation.
C. 78%.
“First trimester” test:
A. Components.
B. When performed.
C. Sensitivity for Down’s syndrome.
A. hCG, pregnancy-associated plasma protein A, thickness of nuchal fold as estimated by ultrasonography.
B. At 10-13 weeks.
C. 83%.
Integrated screens:
A. Components of the “serum integrated screen”.
B. Components of the “full integrated screen”.
C. Sensitivity of the latter for Down’s syndrome.
A. hCG, AFP, uE, DIA, PAPP-A.
B. All of the above plus nuchal-fold thickness.
C. 88%.
How are serum gestational markers expressed for purposes of calculation?
As multiples of the mean (MoM).
What makes the cutoff between “positive” and “negative” in prenatal screening for Down’s syndrome?
The theoretical risk for Down’s syndrome in a child born to a healthy 35-year-old mother, i.e. 1 in 270.
Serum markers: Down’s syndrome.
Elevated hCG, DIA.
Decreased AFP, uE.
Serum markers: Edwards’ syndrome.
hCG, AFP, and uE are all decreased.
Serum markers: Neural-tube defect.
Elevated AFP.
Normal hCG.
Decreased uE.
Use of test for fetal fibronectin.
Absence of FF has a strong NPV, but its presence does not have a high PPV for imminent preterm birth.
Use of transvaginal ultrasound to predict imminent preterm birth.
High NPV but not a high PPV.
Fetal-lung maturity.
A. Accelerating factor.
B. Impeding factor.
A. Stressful pregnancy, i.e. corticosteroids.
B. Maternal diabetes mellitus.
Fetal-lung maturity: When testing becomes relevant.
At 32-38 weeks of gestation.
Fetal-lung maturity: Best specimen for testing.
Uncontaminated amniotic fluid.
Fetal-lung maturity: When a confirmatory test is indicated.
When the screening test yields a result below the cutoff for maturity.
Normal ratio of lecithin to sphingomyelin.
At least 2.5 to 1.
Ratio of lecithin to sphingomyelin: Confounding factors and their effects.
Meconium falsely decreases the ratio.
Blood normalizes it to 1.5.