Placement & PassMed Learning Points Flashcards
What are the sick day rules for a diabetic patient who is at risk of suffering from DKA? [2]
When unwell, if a patient is on insulin therapy, insulin therapy should not be stopped due to risk of DKA
Continue same / normal insulin regime
Check blood glucose levels regularly
A patient suffers from DKA and has severe seizures. What is the cause of this? [1]
Cerebral oedema
Whilst hypokalaemia is common, does not cause seizures
A patient has a water deprivation test for nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
What is urine osmolality like
- After fluid deprivation [1]
- After desmopression test [1]
- After fluid deprivation: low urine osmolality
- After desmopression test: low urine osmolality
How do you distinguish between Graves Disease and toxic multinodular disease using nuclear scintigraphy? [1]
In toxic multinodular goitre:
* nuclear scintigraphy reveals patchy uptake
Graves Disease:
* nuclear scintigraphy reveals diffuse enlargement of both thyroid lobes, with uniform uptake throughout
You suspect a patient with pheochromocytoma based off a patients symptoms. What are they symptoms? [3]
What is the most appropriate next test to confirm your diagnosis? [1]
Symptoms:
* recurrent headaches
* sweating
* palpitations
* hypertensive episodes
The most sensitive and specific test for pheochromocytoma is the 24-hour urine collection for fractionated metanephrines.
* Metanephrines are metabolites of catecholamines and their levels in the urine correlate with catecholamine-secreting tumours.
Why does cancer increase risk of PE? [1]
Cancer is pro-coagulant state as producing clotting factors
Increase bed-bound state
Damages blood vessel walls
For patients with cancer, what is the second leading cause of death after the cancer itself? [1]
PE
Why would patient on chemotherapy be referred to a cardiology team? [1]
Multiple chemotherapy drugs (especially doxorubicin) are cardiotoxic; cause damage to (cardiomyocyte mitochondria)
Describe the onset of a headache that would indicate it’s from metastasised cancer? [1]
Bad headache that occurs worse in the morning; space occupying lesion that increases ICP
Amlodopine can cause what SE? [1]
Pitting oedema
Besides excess vitamin D, name and explain which vitamin can cause hypercalcaemia if intake is in excess? [1]
excessive vit A:
- acts on the bone to stimulate osteoclastic resorption, and inhibit osteoblastic formation and in the situations of dehydration or renal failur
Which of medications should be withheld while a patient receives DKA treatment? [1]
During DKA, patients are given an aggressive fluid replacement and commenced on a fixed rate of insulin infusion.
While on the insulin infusion, long-acting insulin should continue, but short-acting insulins should be stopped. Once the patient is biochemically stable and able to eat, the short-acting insulin can restart.
What is the target clinic blood pressure in adults aged less than 80 with type 2 diabetes mellitus and no other comorbidities? [1]
< 140 / 90
What diabetic complication are gliflozins contraindicated in? [1]
It is contraindicated in active foot disease such as skin ulceration with a possible increased risk of toe amputation
You suspect the underlying cause may be psychogenic polydipsia and request urine and serum osmolality to confirm.
What results would you expect from a water deprivation test? [2]
urine osmolality after fluid deprivation: high
urine osmolality after desmopressin: high
Which type of thyroiditis classically occurs following a viral infection? [1]
De Quervain’s thyroiditis (aka subacute thyroiditis)
Describe the 4 phases of subacute thyroiditis [4]
There are typically 4 phases;
phase 1 (lasts 3-6 weeks):
* hyperthyroidism, painful goitre, raised ESR
phase 2 (1-3 weeks):
* euthyroid
phase 3 (weeks - months):
* hypothyroidism
phase 4:
* thyroid structure and function goes back to normal
SGLT-2 inhibitors have been linked to which important AE that effects the groin? [1]
SGLT-2 inhibitors have been linked to necrotising fasciitis of the genitalia or perineum (Fournier’s Gangrene)
[] is the first-line investigation in suspected primary hyperaldosteronism
A plasma aldosterone/renin ratio is the first-line investigation in suspected primary hyperaldosteronism
What is the treatment protocol for a patient with Addison’s if they are vomiting? [1]
A person with Addisons’ who vomits should take IM hydrocortisone until vomiting stops: this prevents an Addisonian crisis
Several drugs can cause gynaecomastia but one of the most common causes is []
HINT: cardiac drug
Several drugs can cause gynaecomastia but one of the most common causes is digoxin
Nephrotic syndrome presents with proteinuria without haematuria
A man sees his GP for a review of his type 2 diabetes. He is on metformin at the maximum tolerated dose. His latest HbA1c is 64 mmol/mol.
His GP starts him on gliclazide and plans to repeat the HbA1c in 3 months’ time.
What is the patient’s new target HbA1c? [1]
The Hba1c target for patients on a drug which may cause hypoglycaemia (eg sulfonylurea) is 53 mmol/mol
In pregnant woman who develop hyperthyroidism in the first trimester, which treatment is preferred? [1]
In pregnant woman who develop hyperthyroidism in the first trimester, propylthiouracil is preferred over carbimazole due to lower risk of foetal malformation
Name 4 antibodies found in DMT1 [4]