Past papers Flashcards
What scan do for bony metastases
Technetium bisphsophonate scan
Also see activity where fractures
What scan do for meabolically active metastases
FDG PET scan
Septic arthritis with gram negative intracellular diplococci
Neisseria gonorrhoea
Get primary gonorrhoea then a few weeks later get septic arthritis
Most common cause of septic monoarthritis in someone aged 19-30
Neisseria gonorrhoea
Gram negative intracellular diplococci causing meningitis
Neisseria meningitidis
6 year old with gram negative rods on lumbar puncture
Haemophilus influenzae
Neonate or premature with gram negative rods on lumbar puncture
E coli
Only causes meningitis in neonates and premature babies
Gram positive diplococci on blood culture
Step pneumoniae
Gram positive in clusters
Staph aureus
Mild fever PUO, cultures come back gram positive cocci
Strep viridans
What malignancy is lambert eaton associated with
Small cell lung cancer
Which coagulation factor decreases quickest after warfarin
VII
What does a normal osmolality with hyponatraemia suggest
Pseudohyponatraemia
Caused by hyperlipidaemia or paraproteinaemia
What is needed for a true hyponatraemia
A low osmolality
How to differentiate between causes of hypovolaemic hyponatraemia
Look at urinary sodium
- if over 20 then renal cause (drugs, salt losing nephropathy)
- if under 20 diarrhoea etc
Hypokalaemia with hypoglycaemia
Insulin OD
What causes hypokalaemia, hypotension and hypercalciuria
Bartter syndrome
Bartter syndrome (BS) is a rare inherited disease characterised by a defect in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle, which results in low potassium levels (hypokalemia),[2] increased blood pH (alkalosis), and normal to low blood pressure.
Closely related to Gitelmann’s
Specifically, mutations directly or indirectly involving the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter are key. The Na-K-2Cl cotransporter is involved in electroneutral transport of one sodium, one potassium, and two chloride ions across the apical membrane of the tubule. The basolateral calcium-sensing receptor has the ability to downregulate the activity of this transporter upon activation.
Hyperkalaemia with a low aldosterone
ACEi
Reduced production of aldosterone
What are the types of renal tubular acidosis and their affect on potassium handling
Type 1 (distal tubule)- hypokalaemia
Type 2 (proximal tubule)- hypokalaemia
Type 3 (both DCT and PCT)- hypokalaemia
Type 4 (adrenals) - hyperkalaemia
Highest number has hyperK+
Eg of cause of type 4= addisons
What is used to differentiate causes of metabolic acidosis
Anion gap (NR 10-18)
Brittle hair and developmental delay
Homocysteinuria
Homocystinuria is a genetic disorder that affects the metabolism of the amino acid methionine
Cherry red spot
Developmental delay
Deafness and blindness
Fabrys disease (lysosomal disease)
The genetic mutation that causes Fabry disease interferes with the function of an enzyme that processes biomolecules known as sphingolipids, leading to these substances building up in the walls of blood vessels and other organs. It is inherited in an X-linked manner.
Encephalopathy- hypotonia, lethargy, poor feeding
Sweet odour and sweaty feet
Maple syrup disease
(MSUD- Maple syrup urine disease)
The condition gets its name from the distinctive sweet odor of affected infants’ urine and earwax, particularly prior to diagnosis and during times of acute illness
How to tell difference between primary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism
Can be very difficult to tell difference biochemically however presence of CKD shows is tertiary
If ischaemia causing a hyerkalaemia what is cause of the hyperkalaemia
Can either be due to metabolic acidosis or tissue injury
Tissue injury releases K and metabolic acidosis would cause hyperkalaemia to correct acidosis
If acidosis corrected is tissue injury
What does normal base excess show
Whether a resp acidosis or alkalosis is being corrected
If between -2 and 2 is not compensation
How is osmolarity calculated
2(Na+K)+ glucose+urea
What is rash like in pellagra
Casals necklace- erythematous an dpigmented rash in neklace distribution
Pellagra = niacin deficiency (vit D3)
What is ALP in myeloma
Normal
Released by osteoblasts (myeloma stimulates osteoclasts + cancer cells damage BM)
How many half lifes does it take for a drug to reach a steady state
4-5
What is best measure of confirming a reinfarction a couple days after first MI
CK MB as returns to normal a couple days after
What is best measure of MI in terms of sensitivity and specificity
Troponin I
What are differences between cold and warm AIHA
Warm
- haemolysis occurs in spleen
- IgG
- occurs at 37C in DAT
Cold
- intravascular peripheral haemolysis
- IgM
- occurs at lower temperatures
Causes of warm AIHA
Drugs
CLL
SLE
Causes of cold AIHA
Mycoplasma
EBV
What are howell-jolly bodies
Nuclear remnants in RBCs
They are normally removed by the spleen. Their presence in red blood cells can indicate either a lack of proper splenic function or asplenia (absence of a spleen). This finding can be associated with certain conditions such as sickle cell disease
What is anisocytosis
Variety in size of RBC- seen in IDA, beta thalassaemia, megaloblastic anaemia
What are cabot rings and what are they seen in
Looped structures found within RBC
B12 deficiency
What is pental for TTP
MAHA
Renal failure
Thrombocytopenia
Fever
Neuro signs
FAT RN
(HUS triad is without first letter (F) and last letter (N))
What is definitive test for TTP
ADAMTS13 enzyme assay
Enzyme that cleaves VWF multimeters (which are very sticky)
What leukaemia is caused by HTLV-1 infection in japanese women commonly
Adult T-cell leukaemia
What presents with centrocytes and centroblasts on histology
Follicular NHL
Good pics on Wikipedia
A centroblast generally refers to an activated B cell that is enlarged (12–18 micrometer) and is rapidly proliferating in the germinal center of a lymphoid follicle.[1] They are specifically located in the dark zone of the germinal center.[2] Centroblasts form from naive B cells being exposed to follicular dendritic cell cytokines
What lymphoma is seen in HIV
Diffuse large cell lymphoma
What can cause hyposplenism
Trauma
Planned splenectomy
Physiological hyposplenism- coeliac, UC, SCD
FH accompanying celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease is thought to be caused by excessive loss of lymphocytes through the inflamed enteric mucosa, leading to spleen’s reticuloendothelial atrophy
Conditions where splenectomy helpful
The PIIES
Thalassaemia
PK deficiency (RBC breakdown faster than normal)
Immune haemolytic anaemia
Idiopathic TTP
Elliptocytosis
Spherocytosis
Spleen is normal place where damaged RBCs are removed ro will worsen anaemia etc in these conditions
How does beta thalassaemia trait present
Normally picked up on routine blood test
Have slightly microcytic anaemia
Slightly increased HbA2
What is normal proportion of HbA2
1.5-3.5
Presentation of beta thalassaemia major
Failure to thrive
Severe microcytic anaemia
Hepatosplenomegaly
Bossing of forehead
Last 2 due to extramedullary haematopoiesis
What are donath-landsteiner antibodies seen in
Paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria
RBCs in urine after a cold
How to remember symptoms of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
Pancytopenia
New thrombus
Haemolytic anaemia
Ie PNH
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare, acquired,[1] life-threatening disease of the blood characterized by destruction of red blood cells by the complement system, a part of the body’s innate immune system.
What is most sensitive antibody for pernicious anaemia
Anti-parietal cell
Not anti-IF
What are blood findings of haemochromatosis
High ferritin
Low TIBC
High transferrin saturation
High iron
Presentation of hereditary haemochromatosis
- the liver (hepatomegaly, deranged LFTs)
- joints (arthralgia, chondrocalcinosis)
- pancreas (diabetes)- bronze diabetes
- heart (dilated cardiomyopathy)
- pituitary gland (hypogonadism and impotence)
- adrenals (adrenal insufficiency)
- skin (slate grey skin pigmentation)
Later in women as menstruation reducing iron monthly
Management of TTP
Plasma exchange
(+ corticosteroids)
Plasma exchange removes plasma with dysfunctional ADAMTS13. Replaces it with albumin/donor plasma
ADAMTS13 deficieny is caused by auto-ABs against it (usually form after infection) so exchange removes these ABs too
How do packed red cells and FFP transfusions cause thrombocytopenia
They contain very few platelets and have diluting effect on the blood
main FFP content is CFs- FFP is typically used to replace specific blood components in patients with clotting factor deficiencies or to manage coagulopathy e.g. DIC, liver disease
Physiologically what causes an increased ESR
Fibrinogen
Acute phase proteins
Immunoglobulins
It measures the rate at which red blood cells settle in a tube of blood over time- all of these make RBCs stick together.
remember ESR marker of inflammation but not very specific.
What causes combined polycythaemia
Chronic smoking
Smoking contains CO which displaces O from Haemogoblin causing raised EPO. Furthermore it is a risk factor for COPD which causes polycythaemia too
Presence of COPD shows is combined
combined PC = secondary PC
What is difference between splenomegaly and hypersplenism
Splenomegaly is when spleen enlarged- in some cases this can become hypersplenism
Hypersplenism is when get splenomegaly with a reduction in a cell line- ie spleen overractive and removes blood cells from cifculation too fast
What is red cell mass
Essentially is a better measure of HCT as HCT can be increased if the patient is dehydrated
Red cell mass refers to the total volume of red blood cells (RBCs) in the body. It is a measure of the total amount of oxygen-carrying capacity available in the bloodstream.
What is an absolute versus a relative erythrocytosis
Relative erythrocytosis is caused by dehydration whereas absolute is polycythaemia
Red cell mass proves this
What happens to red cell mass in true polycythaemia
Increases
What is glanzmanns thrombasthenia
Inherited lack of GlpIIb/IIIa leading to defective platelet aggregration
Glanzmanns and Glp
How to differentiate between a reactive neutrophilia and cancer
Luekocyte ALP (LAP)
Low in dyscrasia but normal/high in reactive
In CML, the LAP score is low because the abnormal granulocytes have reduced alkaline phosphatase activity.
MOA of bortezomib
Proteosome inhibitor
stops degredation of pro-apoptotic factors. Used in MM
How is von wilebrand treated
Desmopressin
management-
tranexamic acid for mild bleeding
desmopressin (DDAVP): raises levels of vWF by inducing release of vWF from Weibel-Palade bodies in endothelial cells
factor VIII concentrate
What is most common cause of death in myelodysplastic syndromes
Bacterial infection
Increased susceptibility to infection following from diarrhoea
Protein-losing enteropathy
Normally, only a small amount of protein is lost through the intestines, but in PLE, there is a significant increase in the amount of protein lost, leading to hypoalbuminemia (low levels of albumin, a protein in the blood) and other associated symptoms.
What is protein losing enteropathy
Crohns and coeliac disease can lead to hypoproteinaemia causing loss of Ig which diminishes adaptive immune response
also loss of albumin etc
What is defect in CVID
Mutation in MHC III
mechanism unknown apparently
What does presence of anti-Jo suggest about dermatomyositis
Lung fibrosis
Presentation of PBC
Malaise
Itching
Symptoms from lack of absorption of fat soluble vitamins
- Vit A blindness
- Vit K bruising
- vitamin D osteomalacia
- Autoimmune inflammatory destruction of small/medium sized intrahepatic bile ducts → cholestasis → SLOW development of cirrhosis over many years
Which antigen is indicated in pathogenesis of AIHA
rhesus
Which antigen is indicated in pathogenesis of PAN
Hep B surface antigen
30% have underlying Hep B
Which antigen is indicated in pathogenesis of MS
Myelin basic protein
Biopsy of lupus nephritis
IgM, IgG and IgA deposition
C3 deposition
What is used to diagnose IgA nephropathy
Immunofluoresecence showing IgA deposition in the kidney
What is the kviem test used for
Sarcoid
What is CH50 and what happens to it in SLE
An acute phase protein
Raised in SLE (internet says it’s decreased as complement used up)
Which HLA is coeliac associated with
HLA-DQ2 and 8
What is the NBT test
Nitro blue tetrazolium
Measures ability of neutrophils to produce NADPH
Positive (normal functioning neutrophils) means turning blue
Negative (aberrant function) means stays colourless/yellow- CGD
What is NBT in the different neutrophil immunodeficiencies
Kostmann and leukocyte adhesion deficiency is positive
Negative in chronic granulomatous disease
What autoimmune conditions are often seen in selective IgA deficiency
RA
SLE
Coelaic
Which cell first encounters an allergen
Macrophage
In rejection due to ABO incompatibility what cell is responsible for reaction
B cell
What is treatment of a myasthenic crisis
Plasmapharesis
What is a hyperacute organ rejection
Occurs within minutes to hours due to preformed antigens on surface of donor organ
Often occurs if mismatch on ABO
What are the 2 monoclonal anti-TNF alpha antibodies and what is difference
Infliximab- mouse human chimeric
Adalimumab- human monoclonal antibody
‘Imab’ vs ‘umab’
Umab is human
What T1DM antibody is against tyrosine phosphate
Anti-IA-2
Which factors suggest type 2 AIH as opposed to type 1
Presence of anti liver kidney microsome antibodies
Younger people (children)
Resistance to steroids
Low IgA
What antIbodies are seen in vitiligo
Anti-melanocyte
What are anti glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies associated with
T1DM
Stiff man syndrome
Anti-GAD
What antibodies are indicated in GBS
Anti-ganglioside LM1
Low IgA in disease with deranged liver function or symptoms
Type 2 AIH
What is the stain done for PJP
Gomori methenamine silver stain showing flying saucer shaped cysts on microscopy
When are moraxella catarrhalis infections common
In chronic lung disease often in COPD infective exacerbations
Organism causing gastroenteritis after drinking unpasteurised milk
Listeria
Which patients are listeria GI infections seen in
Immunocompromised
Neonates
Beta haemolytic anaerobic organism with tumbling motility causing GI infection
Listeria monocytogenes
GI infection after swimming in a contaminated lake in UK
E coli
Severe watery diarrhoea with no leukocytes on microscopy
Vibrio cholera as produce enterotoxins which cause water loss but don’t colonise the intestine
What type of organism is giardia
Pear shaped trophozyte with 4 flagella and 2 nuceli
In what people should giardia be considered
Homosexual men
Hikers
Travellers
Which bacteria causes diarroea by producing exotoxins which act as a superantigen
Staph aureus
What are phases to leptospirosis (weils syndrome)
Initially get non specific fever, headache and conjunctival haemorrhage
Then haemolytic anaemia, meningitis and renal failure
What organism causes leptospirosis
Leptospira interrogans
Gold standard for leptospirosis
Microscopic agglutination test
What type of organism is cryptococcus
Encapsulated yeast infection
Most common cause of viral meningitis
Non-polio enteroviruses (eg coxsackie virus and echovirus)
Also HSV-2! (HSV-1 is encephalitis tracking up from nasopharynx)
What are examples of NRTIs
Lamivudine and zidovudine
What bacteria causes lyme disease
Borrelia burgdorferi
Main brucella complication
Granulomatous liver
What are examples of NNRTI
Efavirenz
Presentation of lyme disease
In 3 stages
Local
- rash and constitutional sx
Disseminated
- PEACH
- peripheral neuropathy
- erythem migrans
- arthritis
- cranial nerve palsy
- heart block
Late
- arthritis
- encephalitis
Most appropriate and useful test for sporadic CJD
MRI
How to remember sx of sporadic CJD
Demented LAMB
Dementia
LMN signs
Akinetic mutism
Myoclonus
Blindess
Differentiating between the meningitis’ on CSF
- viral
- bacterial
- TB
Both viral and TB can have clear CSF and high lymphocytes however they have extremely high protein and low glucose
Bacterial will have high neutrophils and high proteins but always be turbid and also have a low glucose
What is most significant predictor of clearing the virus in Hep C
Genotype as are a few in the UK some of which carry significantly worse prognosis
What is used to diagnose a current Hep C infection
Hep C RNA PCR
What are haemosiderin macrophages in the lung seen in
LHF
Gastric biopsy reveals signet rings and linitis plastica
Gastric adenocarcinoma
How are peptic ulcers differentiated from gastric adenocarcinomas
Carcinomas have raised and uneven borders
Which cancer is associated with exposure to alfatoxins (from aspergillus)
Hepatocellular carcinoma
Difference in identification lobular and ductal carcinoma in situ
Ductal- unilateral with calcifications
Lobular- bilateral (can have many) and cant be picked up on mammogram
Breast tumour with artichoke like appearance
Phyllodes tumour
Multiple lytic zones around epiphyses
Giant cell tumours
Pains in limbs with shooting pain and SOB too
Pagets bone disease
(SOB as HO cardiac failure?)
Recurrent emboli from vegetations on mitral valve where no inflammation and blood cultures negative
Non thrombotic endocarditis
Non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is a disease characterised by the presence of vegetations on cardiac valves, which consist of fibrin and platelet aggregates and devoid of inflammation or bacteria.
Colorectal cancers with pigmentation around the mouth
Peutz jeughers giving harmartomatous polyps
How to differentiate between emphysema and chronic bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis produces copious amounts of sputum
Blue bloaters (CB) and pink puffers (emphysema)
What is lung disease associated with burns injuries
ARDS
What presents with oral ulcers, malaise and erythema multiforme
SJS
What is eosinophiluria indicative of
Tubulointerstitial nephritis
How is beta thalassaemia diagnosed
High performance liquid chromatography
Detecting high HbA2
Treatment for spinal chord compression myeloma
Steroids (dex)
Radiotherapy
(Surgery?)
What is standard INR target
2-3
This for first time DVT/PE, AF
What factors can raise the target INR
Prosthetic valve
Second DVT/PE
If on continuous unfractionated heparin what need monitored
aPTT
If on prophylaxis LMWH for a surgery what monitoring needed
None
What is done to blood donations to reduce risk of TaGvHD (transfusion associated GvHD) in immunosuppressed patients?
Irradiation
What is mechanism behind hyperacute organ rejection
Preformed antibodies
It is caused by the presence of pre-existing antibodies (usually ABO ABs) in the recipient that recognize antigens in the donor organ.[5] These antigens are located on the endothelial lining of blood vessels within the transplanted organ and, once antibodies bind, will lead to the rapid activation of the complement system.[6] Irreversible damage via thrombosis and subsequent graft necrosis is to be expected.
What is VTE risk compared to women for men
x3
How is heparin function monitored if have renal impairment
Anti-Xa assay
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy against CD19: what type of haematological malignancy does it target?
Any B cell lymphoma or leukaemia
Diagnostic test for HS (hereditary spherocytosis)
Eosin-5’-maleimide dye test
Person who had a DVT many years ago (or recurrent DVTs), presents with recurrent dark bruising, and swelling over the course of 5 years, and now had pain in their leg. What is the possible cause?
Post thrombotic syndrome
Other than PCV what else can JAK2 mutations occur in
Myelofibrosis
Essential thrombocythaemia
What are irregularly contracted cells seen in
G6PD
(Heinz bodies, bite cells, ghost and hemighost cells)- oxidative damage
Haematuria after starting a drug what is diagnosis
G6PD
What is used for treatment of p53 mutation CLL
Ibrutinib
What thrombomodulator reduces in pregnancy
Protein S
(Co-factor to protein C)
What is targeted in Graft vs Host disease?
HLA
What drug can allopurinol not be given with
Azathioprine
Which thrombomodulators are antithrombotic
Thrombomodulin
Protein S
Protein C
How does renal artery stenosis cause hyperaldosteronism
Reduced perfusion which activates RAAS
What is normal response to water deprivavtion test
Urine osmolality increases over 600
What enzyme gets raised if taken cocaine
AST
Elderly gentleman with history of headaches and a raised ALP alone
Pagets
What enzyme is raised in mumps
Amylase-S
If vegan has macrocytic anaemia what is like vitamin deficiency
B12 as folate in veggies
What happens to epiphyses and metaphyses in rickets
Widened epiphyses
Metaphyses become cupped
Final enzyme in uric acid production
Xanthine oxidase
What is raised in rhabdomyolysis
CK
Myoglobin
Acute management of gout
NSAIDS
Colchicine
Chronic management of gout
Allopurinol
Probenecid in some countries
In what condition is there deficiency in HGPRT
Lesch nyan syndrome
What is main difference biochemically between osteomalacia and osteodystrophy
High phosphate in renal
Low in osteomalacia
What is calcitonin raised in
Medullary thyroid cancer
Whats in MEN1
3 ps
Parathyroid
Pancreatic (insulinoma)
Pituitary
What is in MEN2a
2Ps 1M
Parathyroid
Phaeo
Medullary thyroid
What is in MEN 2b
1P 2MS
Phaeo
Medullary thyroid
Mucocutaenous
Associated with Marfans
Interpreting hot uptake on thyroid gland
- diffuse
- multinodular
- single nodule
Diffuse- graves
Multinodular- toxic multinodular goitre (plummers)
Single nodule- toxic adenoma
Hyperthyroidism with cold uptake globally
De quervains
Which molecule takes cholesterol and moves it to liver and steroidogenesis organs?
HDL
How to interpret urine specific gravity
Normal range from 1.005-1.030
If low suggests lots of water in the urine
If high implies very dehydrated
What is most common type of tumour in appendix
Neuroendocrine
Mass in pancreas after pancreatitis
Pseudocyst
Where does pancreatic cancer most commonly metastasie
Liver
Surgeons notice grey specks on the pancreas
Ductal adenocarcinoma
Symmetrical joint pain in younger woman
RA
Which thyroid cancer metastasises to lymph nodes most commonly
Papillary
Ovarian cancer with signet ring cells
Kruckenburg tumour- gastric metastases
Which virus increases risk of nasopharyngeal cancer
EBV
Alcoholic with white stripes in oesophagus
Candidiasis
42 year old woman has a history of intermenstrual bleeding. On examination, a cervical polyp is found. What do you do next?
Remove and send for histology
What type of section is done intraoperatively if need a diagnosis
Intra-operative frozen section
Cause of HTN in upper body only
Aortic coarctation
Most common lung cancer in a non smoker
Adeno
What is method of spread of melanoma
Lymphoid
What presents with muscles aches all over and joint pain
Polymyositis (can also present with joint pain)
What would you measure in an excacerbation of SLE
C3 and C4
Which cells are Foxp3+
Treg
Which cell has oxidative and non-oxidative killing methods and dies once job is done
Neutrophils
What are antibodies for sjogrens
ENA
Anti-Ro
Anti-La
What is associated with increased susceptibility to mycobacterium and the BcG vaccine
IFN-gamma deficiency
IL-12 deficiency
Person older than 18 with recurrent infections and evidence of B cell problems
CVID
Normal B cells and CD8 but deficient CD4
Bare lymphocyte syndrome type II
Reduced T cell and neutrophil counts but normal B cells
X-linked SCID
Normal B and T cells, high IgM but absence of IgA, IgE and IgG
Hyper IgM syndrome
What monoclonal antibody used to treat ank spond
Etanercept
What is MOA of etanercept
TNF-alpha inhibitor AND TNF-beta unlike infliximab and adalimumab which just alpha
What antibodies are used to treat melanoma
Ipilimumab
Pembrolizumab
Nivolumab
MOA of ipilimumab
Blocks T cell inhibitory checkpoints by binding to CTLA4