ABPN Basic Flashcards

Which artery occlusion most commonly causes contralateral face and arm weakness with aphasia?

Answer: Middle cerebral artery

MCA strokes classically cause contralateral face/arm weakness and, in the dominant hemisphere, aphasia.

Which medication requires monitoring for agranulocytosis with regular blood counts?

Answer: Clozapine

Clozapine can cause agranulocytosis, requiring scheduled absolute neutrophil count monitoring.

Ascending symmetric weakness with areflexia following an infection suggests which diagnosis?

Answer: Guillain-Barré syndrome

Guillain-Barré syndrome presents with ascending weakness and areflexia, often after infection.

Which defense mechanism involves attributing one's own unacceptable feelings to another person?

Answer: Projection

Projection attributes one's own unacceptable impulses or feelings to someone else.

The Babinski sign (extensor plantar response) in an adult indicates dysfunction of which pathway?

Answer: Corticospinal tract

An extensor plantar response reflects corticospinal (upper motor neuron) tract dysfunction.

Which condition is characterized by sudden brief loss of muscle tone triggered by emotion?

Answer: Cataplexy

Cataplexy is sudden emotion-triggered loss of muscle tone, associated with narcolepsy.

Which laboratory abnormality is a known adverse effect requiring monitoring on valproate?

Answer: Hepatotoxicity and thrombocytopenia

Valproate can cause hepatotoxicity and thrombocytopenia, so liver enzymes and platelets are monitored.