Valvular Heart Disease USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 34-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with palpitations and a syncopal episode during exercise. Medical history is significant for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV. Physical examination reveals a mid-to-late systolic click followed by a late systolic murmur best heard at the apex. Vital signs are stable. Echocardiography demonstrates posterior displacement of the mitral leaflets during systole with mild mitral regurgitation. Which of the following best explains her risk for sudden cardiac death in the setting of this cardiac abnormality?
Answer choices
- AIncreased arrhythmogenic substrate from myxomatous leaflet redundancy and papillary muscle stretchCorrect answer
- BProgressive aortic root dilation with risk of acute aortic dissection
- CSevere acute mitral regurgitation leading to cardiogenic shock
- DDevelopment of infective endocarditis from abnormal valve anatomy
- ECoronary artery ostial abnormalities causing exercise-induced myocardial ischemia
- FRestrictive cardiomyopathy from excessive collagen deposition in the myocardium
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