ABFM HYPERTENSION EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 100%
CORRECT!
A 39-year-old male sees you for evaluation of high blood pressure. His past medical
history is unremarkable. On examination he has a BMI of 32 kg/m2 and you note that he
has a round face and a plethoric complexion. His blood pressure is 150/98 mm Hg, his
pulse rate is 88 beats/min, and his respiratory rate is 16/min. Other notable findings
include a prominent dorsal cervical fat pad and supraclavicular fat pads, as well as
violaceous striae on his trunk. Laboratory findings are notable only for a fasting glucose
level of 114 mg/dL.Which one of the following is the most likely cause of his
hypertension?
Addison's disease
Cushing syndrome
Hemochromatosis
Pheochromocytoma
Primary hyperaldosteronism - ANSWERSB
This patient's clinical findings are consistent with Cushing syndrome, or
hyperadrenocorticism. This is a clinical syndrome and metabolic disorder resulting from
chronic excess of glucocorticoids. The most common cause is corticosteroid use, but
adrenal neoplasms account for 20%-25% of cases. Findings include general weakness,
osteoporosis, moon facies, facial plethora, ecchymoses, truncal obesity, violaceous
striae of the abdomen, deposition of adipose tissue in the interscapular area ("buffalo
hump"), and glucose intolerance.
You diagnose stage 2 hypertension in a 54-year-old male. His past medical history is
otherwise unremarkable and a physical examination is notable for mild AV nicking on
funduscopic examination. A baseline EKG reveals evidence of left ventricular
hypertrophy.Which one of the following classes of antihypertensive agents has NOT
been shown to produce a regression of left ventricular hypertrophy?
ACE inhibitors
β-Blockers
Calcium channel blockers
Direct vasodilators
Thiazide diuretics - ANSWERSD
In patients with left ventricular hypertrophy, studies have shown a reduction in left
ventricular mass in those treated with ACE inhibitors, diuretics, calcium channel
blockers, and β-blockers, with the most consistent reduction achieved with ACE
inhibitors and the least with β-blockers. Regression of left ventricular hypertrophy has
not been demonstrated with direct vasodilators such as hydralazine and minoxidil.
,According to currently accepted criteria, hypertension in children is defined as repeated
blood pressure measurements at or above a threshold of which one of the following
percentiles for age, sex, and height?
80th
85th
90th
95th
99th - ANSWERSD
In children and adolescents, hypertension is defined as blood pressure at or above the
95th percentile for age, sex, and height, on repeated measurements.
Which one of the following conditions is associated with isolated systolic hypertension?
Aortic stenosis
Hypothyroidism
Paget's disease
Renovascular hypertension
Severe osteoporosis - ANSWERSC
Isolated elevation of systolic blood pressure can be secondary to conditions associated
with elevated cardiac output, such as anemia, Paget's disease, hyperthyroidism,
arteriovenous fistula, and aortic insufficiency.
A 59-year-old African-American male with a history of hypercholesterolemia and gout
sees you for a health maintenance visit. A physical examination is notable only for a
blood pressure of 144/85 mm Hg.Laboratory FindingsLDL-cholesterol............82
mg/dLHDL-cholesterol............47 mg/dLSerum triglycerides............134 mg/dLLiver
panel............normalSerum creatinine............1.7 mg/dL (N 0.7-1.3)Estimated glomerular
filtration rate............56 mL/min/1.73 m2Which one of the following does the JNC 8 panel
recommend as initial management of this patient's blood pressure elevation?
Lifestyle measures only
An ACE inhibitor
A calcium channel blocker
Hydralazine
Hydrochlorothiazide - ANSWERSB
The JNC 8 panel recommends the initiation of pharmacologic treatment to lower blood
pressure in patients ≥18 years of age with a systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg or a
diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg if they have chronic kidney disease (CKD), defined
as an estimated or measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2.
Treatment is recommended for patients of any age with these blood pressure values
who also have albuminuria, defined as >30 mg of albumin/g of creatinine regardless of
GFR (SOR C).Although a thiazide diuretic or a calcium channel blocker is generally
recommended as first-line antihypertensive therapy in African-Americans, for patients
,≥18 years of age who have CKD, the JNC 8 panel recommends initial (or add-on)
antihypertensive treatment with an ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker to
improve kidney outcomes, regardless of ethnicity or diabetes status (SOR B).The 2017
American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association hypertension guidelines
similarly recommend use of an ACE inhibitor in patients with stage 3 CKD, as well as in
patients who have stages 1 or 2 CKD with albuminuria >300 mg/day.
A 67-year-old male with a history of hypertension and type 2 diabetes has inadequately
controlled blood pressure. His current medications are lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), 40 mg
daily; hydrochlorothiazide, 25 mg daily; and extended-release metformin (Glucophage
XR), 1500 mg daily. Laboratory testing reveals a hemoglobin A1c of 6.8%, normal
serum electrolytes, a serum creatinine level of 1.0 mg/dL (N 0.6-1.5), and a urinary
albumin/creatinine ratio of 80 mg/g (N <30).Which one of the following agents should be
AVOIDED in this patient?
Aliskiren (Tekturna)
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Diltiazem (Cardizem)
Doxazosin (Cardura)
Felodipine (Plendil) - ANSWERSA
The ALTITUDE study (Aliskiren Trial in Type 2 Diabetes Using Cardiorenal Endpoints)
was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled international multicenter trial
undertaken to determine whether the addition of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren to
standard therapy with renin-angiotensin system blockade would be beneficial for
patients with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for cardiovascular and renal events.
The study was terminated prematurely after a median follow-up of 27 months when no
benefit was apparent, and a higher risk of hyperkalemia and hypotension was seen in
patients receiving aliskiren. Based on this study, the FDA issued a drug safety warning
in 2012 that announced two additions to the drug labeling of aliskiren-containing
products. The first addition was a contraindication to the use of aliskiren in patients with
diabetes mellitus who are taking angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) or ACE
inhibitors, because of an increased risk of renal impairment, hypotension, and
hyperkalemia. The second addition was a warning to avoid the use of aliskiren with
ARBs or ACE inhibitors in patients with moderate to severe renal impairment
(glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2).The use of ACE inhibitors, ARBs, β-
blockers, diuretics, and calcium channel blockers has been shown to be effective in
reducing cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes mellitus. Although no such
benefit has been seen with doxazosin, there is no contraindication to its use in patients
with diabetes.
A 44-year-old male has a 1-week history of generalized headaches and nonspecific
dizziness. His past medical history is notable only for a 3-year history of hypertension,
which has been poorly controlled because of a lack of adherence to his drug regimen.
His renal status was normal 1 month ago. On examination his blood pressure is
250/150 mm Hg, and you note cotton-wool exudates on funduscopic examination.
Laboratory evaluation reveals normal serum electrolytes, a serum creatinine level of 3.8
, mg/dL (N 0.7-1.3), and a BUN level of 60 mg/dL (N 6-20). A urinalysis shows gross
hematuria and 3+ proteinuria.Which one of the following will rapidly lower his blood
pressure and increase renal blood flow?
Diazoxide (Proglycem)
Enalaprilat (Vasotec)
Esmolol (Brevibloc)
Fenoldopam (Corlopam)
Nitroprusside (Nitropress) - ANSWERSD
Fenoldopam is a selective peripheral dopamine-receptor agonist used for the treatment
of severe hypertension. In studies investigating fenoldopam use in severe hypertension,
its efficacy in lowering blood pressure was found to be comparable to that of
nitroprusside. It is FDA-approved for the in-hospital management of severe
hypertension when rapid but quickly reversible reduction of blood pressure is required,
such as in a patient with malignant hypertension who has deteriorating end-organ
function. By virtue of its actions on peripheral dopamine receptors, fenoldopam
produces renal arterial vasodilation and natriuresis, and thus can provide a renal
protective effect in clinical situations associated with impaired renal function. In addition,
there is evidence that it may improve creatinine clearance and urine flow rates in
severely hypertensive patients with either normal or impaired renal function. The 2017
American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) hypertension
guidelines include fenoldopam as a preferred agent for treating hypertensive
emergencies associated with acute renal failure. Other options include nicardipine and
clevidipine.
Compared to the typical American diet, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension
(DASH) diet includes reduced consumption of which one of the following?
Dietary fiber
Dietary protein
Low-fat dairy products
Nuts and whole grains
Fats and sweets - ANSWERSE
Compared to a control diet with a high sodium level, the low-sodium Dietary
Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet was found to lower mean systolic blood
pressure 7.1 mm Hg in participants without hypertension and 11.5 mm Hg in
participants with hypertension. The DASH diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low-
fat dairy foods, and includes whole grains, poultry, fish, and nuts, and contains smaller
amounts of red meats, sweets, and sugar-containing beverages than the typical
American diet. It also provides smaller amounts of cholesterol and total and saturated
fat, and larger amounts of potassium, dietary fiber, and protein.
An obese 64-year-old female with a history of hypercholesterolemia has a blood
pressure of 168/102 mm Hg and is started on hydrochlorothiazide and amlodipine
(Norvasc). For patients such as this, the 2017 treatment guidelines jointly developed by
