Chemical Pathology Flashcards
7 cards from real ABPATH practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Chemical Pathology flashcards as text
Which condition classically produces a decreased haptoglobin level?
Answer: Intravascular hemolysis
Free hemoglobin from hemolysis binds and consumes haptoglobin, lowering its serum concentration.
A dexamethasone suppression test that fails to suppress cortisol suggests which disorder?
Answer: Cushing syndrome
Autonomous cortisol production in Cushing syndrome resists suppression by exogenous glucocorticoid.
Which analyte is best measured in a first-morning urine sample for microalbuminuria screening?
Answer: Albumin-to-creatinine ratio
The albumin-to-creatinine ratio corrects for urine concentration and detects early diabetic nephropathy.
A patient with high PTH, low calcium, and high phosphate most likely has which condition?
Answer: Chronic kidney disease (secondary hyperparathyroidism)
Renal failure retains phosphate and lowers calcium, driving compensatory secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Which enzyme is most useful for distinguishing hepatocellular from cholestatic liver injury when elevated predominantly?
Answer: ALT (hepatocellular) versus ALP (cholestatic)
Predominant ALT elevation indicates hepatocellular injury while predominant ALP elevation indicates cholestasis.
Which pre-analytical error most commonly causes falsely elevated serum lactate?
Answer: Delayed separation of plasma from cells
Red and white cells continue glycolysis in the tube, generating lactate if plasma is not separated promptly.
A positive nitroprusside urine test in a newborn with feeding difficulties suggests which metabolic disorder?
Answer: Cystinuria/homocystinuria (sulfur amino acids)
The nitroprusside (cyanide-nitroprusside) test detects sulfhydryl-containing amino acids like cystine and homocystine.