Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

MKSAP: 68-year-old woman with progressive abdominal distention

mksap
Conditions
December 24, 2016
Share
Tweet
Share

Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.

A 68-year-old woman is evaluated for a 3-month history of gradually progressive abdominal distention. Her medical history is notable for a 20-year history of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. She also has had a 10-year history of elevation of serum aminotransferase levels, which was attributed to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. She does not consume alcohol. Her medications are metformin, lisinopril, low-dose aspirin, and simvastatin.

On physical examination, vital signs are normal; BMI is 38. Spider angiomata are present. Abdominal examination is limited by obesity, but there is mild abdominal distention consistent with ascites. There is no obvious hepatomegaly or splenomegaly.

Laboratory studies:

Platelet count 68,000/µL (68 × 109/L)
Alanine aminotransferase 54 U/L
Aspartate aminotransferase 64 U/L
Albumin 3.2 g/dL (32 g/L)
Total bilirubin 2 mg/dL (34.2 µmol/L)
Direct bilirubin 1.4 mg/dL (24 µmol/L)
Urinalysis 1+ protein

Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A: Echocardiogram
B: Liver biopsy
C: Stop simvastatin
D: Ultrasound of the liver and spleen

MKSAP Answer and Critique

The correct answer is D: Ultrasound of the liver and spleen.

The most appropriate diagnostic test to perform next is ultrasound of the liver and spleen. This patient has a history of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and now has abdominal distention suggestive of ascites. Her low platelet count is suggestive of portal hypertension, and liver dysfunction is supported by the slightly elevated serum bilirubin and low albumin levels.

The next test should be liver imaging with a test such as ultrasound to assess for changes consistent with portal hypertension. In the United States, many cases of “cryptogenic” liver disease are likely related to advanced NAFLD.

Although this patient has risk factors for cardiac disease, she does not have other signs or symptoms suggestive of heart failure. In addition, cardiac dysfunction, unless very long-standing, would not produce splenomegaly. Therefore, echocardiography is not necessary at this time.

Liver biopsy to diagnose cirrhosis is not necessary in patients with other clear manifestations of liver dysfunction and portal hypertension, such as is seen in this patient.

Simvastatin rarely produces mild liver test abnormalities but does not cause chronic liver injury or portal hypertension. Patients with NAFLD have a high prevalence of coronary artery disease; therefore, risk-factor reduction, including the use of statins where appropriate, is advised.

Key Point

  • Liver imaging with a test such as ultrasound is useful for assessing changes consistent with portal hypertension.

This content is excerpted from MKSAP 17 with permission from the American College of Physicians (ACP). Use is restricted in the same manner as that defined in the MKSAP 16 Digital license agreement. This material should never be used as a substitute for clinical judgment and does not represent an official position of ACP. All content is licensed to KevinMD.com on an “AS IS” basis without any warranty of any nature. The publisher, ACP, shall not be liable for any damage or loss of any kind arising out of or resulting from use of content, regardless of whether such liability is based in tort, contract or otherwise.

Prev

These doctors were shamed and bullied for being sick

December 23, 2016 Kevin 61
…
Next

When can I follow my intuition?

December 24, 2016 Kevin 3
…

ADVERTISEMENT

Tagged as: Gastroenterology

Post navigation

< Previous Post
These doctors were shamed and bullied for being sick
Next Post >
When can I follow my intuition?

ADVERTISEMENT

More by mksap

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    MKSAP: 26-year-old man with back pain

    mksap
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    MKSAP: 36-year-old man with abdominal cramping, diarrhea, malaise, and nausea

    mksap
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    MKSAP: 52-year-old woman with osteoarthritis of the right hip

    mksap

Related Posts

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    MKSAP: 35-year-old woman with constipation

    mksap
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    MKSAP: 60-year-old woman with persistent constipation

    mksap
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    MKSAP: 45-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus

    mksap
  • What does it mean to be a progressive doctor?

    Surafel Tsega, MD
  • 3 ways we’ve failed woman who breastfeed

    Joanna Buscemi, PhD
  • How one woman prevented a pharmaceutical disaster

    James Essinger and Sandra Koutzenko

More in Conditions

  • How chronic stress harms the heart in minority communities

    Monzur Morshed, MD and Kaysan Morshed
  • Could antibiotics beat heart disease where statins failed?

    Larry Kaskel, MD
  • Universities must tap endowments to sustain biomedical research

    Adeel Khan, MD
  • Apprenticeship reshapes medical training for confident clinicians

    Claude E. Lett III, PA-C
  • Why palliative care is more than just end-of-life support

    Dr. Vishal Parackal
  • My improbable survival of stage 4 cancer

    Kelly Curtin-Hallinan, DO
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • How hospitals can prepare for CMS’s new patient safety rule

      Kim Adelman, PhD | Conditions
    • Why palliative care is more than just end-of-life support

      Dr. Vishal Parackal | Conditions
    • When life makes you depend on Depends

      Francisco M. Torres, MD | Physician
    • Guilty until proven innocent? My experience with a state medical board.

      Jeffrey Hatef, Jr., MD | Physician
    • Why medical notes have become billing scripts instead of patient stories

      Sriman Swarup, MD, MBA | Tech
    • How chronic stress harms the heart in minority communities

      Monzur Morshed, MD and Kaysan Morshed | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices

      Angela Rodriguez, MD | Conditions
    • COVID-19 was real: a doctor’s frontline account

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Conditions
    • Why primary care doctors are drowning in debt despite saving lives

      John Wei, MD | Physician
    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • Confessions of a lipidologist in recovery: the infection we’ve ignored for 40 years

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?

      Harry Oken, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • How chronic stress harms the heart in minority communities

      Monzur Morshed, MD and Kaysan Morshed | Conditions
    • Could antibiotics beat heart disease where statins failed?

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • The dying man who gave me flowers changed how I see care

      Augusta Uwah, MD | Physician
    • Universities must tap endowments to sustain biomedical research

      Adeel Khan, MD | Conditions
    • Exploring the science behind burnout [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Apprenticeship reshapes medical training for confident clinicians

      Claude E. Lett III, PA-C | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • How hospitals can prepare for CMS’s new patient safety rule

      Kim Adelman, PhD | Conditions
    • Why palliative care is more than just end-of-life support

      Dr. Vishal Parackal | Conditions
    • When life makes you depend on Depends

      Francisco M. Torres, MD | Physician
    • Guilty until proven innocent? My experience with a state medical board.

      Jeffrey Hatef, Jr., MD | Physician
    • Why medical notes have become billing scripts instead of patient stories

      Sriman Swarup, MD, MBA | Tech
    • How chronic stress harms the heart in minority communities

      Monzur Morshed, MD and Kaysan Morshed | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why transgender health care needs urgent reform and inclusive practices

      Angela Rodriguez, MD | Conditions
    • COVID-19 was real: a doctor’s frontline account

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Conditions
    • Why primary care doctors are drowning in debt despite saving lives

      John Wei, MD | Physician
    • New student loan caps could shut low-income students out of medicine

      Tom Phan, MD | Physician
    • Confessions of a lipidologist in recovery: the infection we’ve ignored for 40 years

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • mRNA post vaccination syndrome: Is it real?

      Harry Oken, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • How chronic stress harms the heart in minority communities

      Monzur Morshed, MD and Kaysan Morshed | Conditions
    • Could antibiotics beat heart disease where statins failed?

      Larry Kaskel, MD | Conditions
    • The dying man who gave me flowers changed how I see care

      Augusta Uwah, MD | Physician
    • Universities must tap endowments to sustain biomedical research

      Adeel Khan, MD | Conditions
    • Exploring the science behind burnout [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Apprenticeship reshapes medical training for confident clinicians

      Claude E. Lett III, PA-C | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...