COPD USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A premature female infant is born at 29 weeks gestation to a mother with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Soon after birth, the infant develops tachypnea, nasal flaring, and intercostal retractions. Oxygen saturation remains low despite supplemental oxygen. Chest x-ray shows diffuse bilateral ground glass opacities with air bronchograms. Which of the following is the most likely underlying cause of this infant's respiratory failure?
Answer choices
- ADestruction of alveolar septa by neutrophil elastase
- BHyperplasia of mucus secreting bronchiolar cells
- CDeficiency of surfactant produced by type II pneumocytesCorrect answer
- DFailure of closure of the ductus arteriosus
- EDefective ciliary dynein arms
- FIncreased pulmonary vascular resistance due to abnormal smooth muscle development
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