Organ System Pathology USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 67 year old man is hospitalized for an acute transmural myocardial infarction. Two days later, he develops sudden pulmonary edema and hypotension. Examination shows a new holosystolic murmur best heard at the apex and radiating to the axilla. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this acute valvular complication?
Answer choices
- ARupture of the posteromedial papillary muscleCorrect answer
- BMyxomatous degeneration of the posterior leaflet
- CFibrosis of the chordae after rheumatic fever
- DCalcification of the mitral annulus
- EVegetation on the tricuspid valve
- FRupture of the anterolateral papillary muscle
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