Internal Medicine: Case Files Flashcards
Which DMARD is often used as the first drug of choice in treating RA because of rapid onset of action and higher tolerability leading to greater patient compliance?
Methotrexate
For individuals from areas of low drug-resistance, What is the usual therapy for TB?
2 month course of INH, Rifampin, and Pyrazinamide (Watching patients take the medication should be instituted in all patients in this phase), followed by 4 month course of INH and rifampin. Pyridoxine is frequently added to avoid peripheral neuropathy caused by INH.
Treatment failure is defined as positive cultures after 3 months or positive AFB stains after 5 months and should be treated by adding two more drugs.
What are the 3 TNF antagonists used in the treament of RA if traditional DMARDS fail?
- Etanercept
- Infliximab
- Adalimumab
What is the standard treatment regimen for diverticulitis?
Triple therapy
- Ampicillin
- Aminoglycoside
- Metronidazole
What are the most common causes of bloody pleural effusion (in the absence of trauma)?
- Malignancy: Associated with subacute symptoms
- Pulmonary embolism with infarction: associated with acute onset dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain
- Tuberculosis
What is the treatment for an acute painful episode in a sickle cell patient?
- Hydration
- Narcotic analgesia
- Adequate oxygenation
- Search for underlying infection
At what point is carotid endarterectomy superior to medical therapy in stroke prevention (provided the surgical risk is
In symptomatic patients with severe stenosis >70%
Elevated serum levels of LDH and indirect bilirubin or decreased serum levels of haptoglobin are consistent with what?
Hemolysis
What is the most common cause of pleural effusion and how does it present?
Congestive heart failure which is associated with bilateral symmetric transudative effusions
Treatment of choice is diuresis
What is the most common cause of syncope in healthy young people?
Vasovagal syncopy
It often has a precipitating event, prodromal symptoms, and an excellent prognosis
What can be given to a RA patient who is refractory to TNF antagonists and DMARDs?
Immunosuppressive agents
- Azathioprine
- Leflunomide
- Cyclosporine
- Cyclophosphamide
Equally as effective as DMARDs but considerably more toxic
Upper airway (usually extrathoracic) obstruction is associated with what finding on pulmonary exam?
Inspiratory stridor
What are the Light criteria for pleural fluid to be labeled an exudate?
Fluid must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Pleural fluid protein/serum protein ratio >0.5
- Pleural fluid LDH/Serum LDH ratio >0.6
- Pleural fluid LDH greater than two-thirds the upper limit of normal for serum LDH
When do you start prophylaxis against Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare (MAC) complex in a HIV positive patient and what do you give?
Clarithromycin or Azithromycin when CD4 count < 50 cells/mm3
What is the treatment for latent TB?
INH for 9 months
What is the principal imaging modality to diagnose suspected pulmonary embolism?
Chest CT with IV contrast
Patients in whom a CT with radiocontrast cannot be obtained or is contraindicated, a V/Q scan remains a useful tool
What are some poor prognostic signs of acute pancreatitis?
- BUN rises 5 mg/dL after 48hrs despite IV hydration
- Elevated serum glucose
- Hematocrit drop of at least 10%
Notably, the amylase level does not correlate to the severity of the disease
What are some extra-intestinal manifestations of crohns disease and ulcerative colitis?
- Uveitis
- Erythema nodosum
- Pyoderma gangrenosum
- Arthritis
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis
What is the treatment for Early disseminated or late Lyme disease?
Intravenous cephalosporins
What is the treatment of choice for endocarditis due to MRSA?
Vancomycin
Therapy for endocarditis in an IV drug user is directed against Staph aureus
What is the treatment of choice for endocarditis due to one of the HACEK oragnisms?
Ceftriaxone
What is the treatment for viral or inflammatory pericarditis?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids for refractory cases
What is the BUN:Creatinine ratio in prerenal failure?
>20
When is PPD considered positive in a person without any risk factors?
Induration >15mm after 48-72 hours
What is the treatment for prerenal and postrenal failures?
Prerenal: Volume replacement
Postrenal: Relief of obstruction
What is the drug of choice for treating Osteoarthritis?
Acetaminophen
What are the most common bacteria implicated in catheter-associated infections?
Staph Aureus and coagulase-negative Staph
What is the treatment for neurosyphilis or tertiary syphilis?
IV penicillin for 10-14 days
What is the treatment for euvolemic patients with hyponatremia?
Fluid restriction
Patients with severe symptoms such as coma or seizures, should be treated with hypertonic (3%) saline
What are the 3 most common causes of cough in an immunocompetent nonsmoker who is not taking ACE inhibitors?
- Postnasal drip
- Asthma
- GERD
Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia is usually caused by what?
Hemolysis or Gilbert Syndrome
When is PPD considered positive in patients with HIV, close contacts of patients with TB, or patients with CXR findings consistent with TB?
Induration of 5mm or more after 48-72 hours
What is the appearance of the ventricles and brain in a patient with normal pressure hydrocephalus?
Enlarged brain ventricles without brain atrophy
Hemorrhagic cerebrospinal fluid with evidence of temporal lobe involvement by imaging or EEG suggests what?
Herpes simplex virus encephalitis
Acyclovir is the tx of choice
In what normal conditions or disease states can RPR and VDRL tests for syphilis be falsely positive?
- Pregnancy
- SLE
Microhemagglutination assay for Treponema pallidum (MHA-TP) and the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test should be performed for confirmation of syphilis, but once positive, they usually stay positive for life.
To be diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, a patient must have 4 of what 11 criteria?
- Malar rash
- Discoid rash
- Photosensitivity
- Oral ulcers
- Arthritis
- Serositis
- Renal disease
- Neurologic manifestations
- Hematologic cytopenias
- Immunologic abnormalities
- Positive Antinuclear antibody (ANA)
What should the rate of sodium correction not exceed in order to avoid central pontine myelinolysis?
0.5 to 1 mEq/hr
What is the initial treatment for immune thrombocytopenic purpura?
Corticosteroids
Severe disease can be treated with IV immunoglobulin and chronic refractory cases are treated with splenectomy.
Acute onset dyspnea or hypoxemia with a normal chest x-ray should be considered what until proven otherwise?
A pulmonary embolism
What is the drug of choice for Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Temporal Arteritis?
Corticosteroids
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica: Prednisone 10-20mg
- Temporal Arteritis: Prednisone 40-60mg
What are the indications for urgent dialysis?
AEIOU
- Acid-base problems (severe acidosis or alkalosis)
- Electrolyte problems (hyperkalemia)
- Intoxications
- Overload, fluid
- Uremic symptoms
Because of the risk of fatal cardiac arrhythmias, severe hyperkalemia is considered an emergency best treated medically and not with dialysis
What is the treatment for rhabdomyolysis?
Aggressive administration of IV normal saline to prevent renal failure
What is the medical approach to Alzheimer disease?
Cholinesterase inhibitors such as Donepezil or Rivastigmine
In a patient with adrenal insufficiency, is hyperpigmentation a sign of primary, secondary, or tertiary etiology?
Primary
Hyperpigmentation occurs as a result of increased melanocyte-stimulating factor, a byproduct of ACTH, and occurs in primary adrenal insufficiency. Secondary causes of adrenal insufficiency result in low ACTH levels and thus do not cause the “tanned” appearance
What is the prophylaxis of choice in patients at high risk of endocarditis?
Amoxicillin
What is the target blood pressure of a patient being treated for hypertension?
< 135/85 mmHg unless the patient has diabetes or renal disease, in which case the target is < 130/80 mmHg
What is the medical approach to multi-infarct dementia?
Address atherosclerotic risk factors and identify/treat thrombus
What is the difference between the onset of action of DMARDs and TNF antagonists?
TNF antagonists take effect within weeks whereas DMARDs take several months
What is the medical approach to Multiple Sclerosis?
Recombinant interferon and corticosteroids
What is the approach to Normal-pressure Hydrocephalus?
Ventricular shunting process
Patients with diabetes should have their urine screened for what?
Microalbuminuria (albumin excretion of 30-300 mg/d)
What is the treatment of choice for endocarditis due to Methicillin susceptible Staph aureus?
Nafcillin
Often used in combination with Gentamicin initially for synergy, to help resolve bacteremia