10-30-2006, 09:57 PM
A 45-year-old female has experienced difficulty in
swallowing that has increased in severity over the past
year. She has also experienced malabsorption, demonstrated
by a 10-kg weight loss in the past 6 months. She reports
increasing dyspnea. Echocardiography demonstrates a large
pericardial effusion. Her antinuclear antibody test is posi-
tive at 1:512 with a nucleolar pattern. Which of the follow-
ing serious complications of her underlying autoimmune
disease is most likely to occur?
O (A) Meningitis
O (B) Glomerulonephritis
O © Perforated duodenal ulcer
O (D) Adrenal failure
O (E) Malignant hypertension
swallowing that has increased in severity over the past
year. She has also experienced malabsorption, demonstrated
by a 10-kg weight loss in the past 6 months. She reports
increasing dyspnea. Echocardiography demonstrates a large
pericardial effusion. Her antinuclear antibody test is posi-
tive at 1:512 with a nucleolar pattern. Which of the follow-
ing serious complications of her underlying autoimmune
disease is most likely to occur?
O (A) Meningitis
O (B) Glomerulonephritis
O © Perforated duodenal ulcer
O (D) Adrenal failure
O (E) Malignant hypertension
