General Pathology USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 24 year old woman undergoes emergency delivery for placental abruption. Shortly afterward she develops diffuse oozing from venipuncture sites, hypotension, and hematuria. Laboratory studies show platelet count 28,000/mm3, prolonged PT, prolonged PTT, low fibrinogen, and markedly elevated D dimer. Which of the following mechanisms best explains this patient's condition?
Answer choices
- AReduced ADAMTS13 activity
- BAutoimmune destruction of platelets only
- CWidespread activation of coagulation with consumption of platelets and clotting factorsCorrect answer
- DDefective platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa
- EDeficiency of factor VIII
- FHeparin-induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis from platelet-activating IgG antibodies against PF4
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