ITE Study Guide 2026

Warfarin throughout pregnancy offers the most reliable anticoagulation for mechanical valves and the lowest thrombosis risk, though it carries fetal risks (especially in the first trimester).

The most useful diagnostic test for primary hyperparathyroidism involves measuring both serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. In primary hyperparathyroidism, there is typically hypercalcemia (high calcium) accompanied by inappropriately elevated or normal PTH levels. This combination confirms autonomous PTH secretion, which is characteristic of the condition.

Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, an autoimmune disorder where the body produces antibodies that stimulate the thyroid gland to produce excessive thyroid hormones. This leads to symptoms such as weight loss, heat intolerance, and palpitations. It is characterized by diffuse thyroid enlargement and often ophthalmopathy.

Gastrinomas cause Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, characterized by elevated fasting gastrin (>1000 pg/mL) and recurrent peptic ulcers from gastric acid hypersecretion.

Very low post-operative cortisol indicates successful tumor removal but requires exogenous glucocorticoid replacement until the HPA axis recovers.

In severe AR, surgery is indicated when LVESD ≥50 mm (Class IIa) or ≥55 mm (Class I) even in asymptomatic patients to prevent irreversible LV dysfunction.