Inflammatory Bowel Disease USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 23-year-old woman with a 2-year history of abdominal pain and nonbloody diarrhea presents with 8-pound weight loss. Vital signs: BP 118/76, HR 88, RR 16, Temp 37.2°C, SpO2 98%. Laboratory studies show hemoglobin 11.2 g/dL and elevated inflammatory markers. Colonoscopy reveals skip lesions with patchy inflammation and normal intervening mucosa. Biopsy demonstrates transmural inflammation with noncaseating granulomas. No rectal bleeding is noted. Which complication is most likely to develop in this patient?
Answer choices
- ADisease limited to the rectum
- BFistula formationCorrect answer
- CToxic megacolon due to superficial mucosal inflammation
- DPrimary sclerosing cholangitis
- EShortened, featureless colon with lead pipe appearance
- FIncreased risk of colorectal cancer within 1 year of diagnosis
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