need help with your account or subscription? click here to email us (or see the contact page)
join telegramNEW! discord
jump to exam page:
search for anything ⋅ score predictor (โ€œpredict me!โ€)

NBME 20 Answers

nbme20/Block 3/Question#35 (reveal difficulty score)
A 51-year-old man has the acute onset of ...
Cytomegalovirus infection ๐Ÿ” / ๐Ÿ“บ / ๐ŸŒณ / ๐Ÿ“–
tags: micro

 Login (or register) to see more


 +46  upvote downvote
submitted by โˆ—amorah(115)
get full access to all contentpick a username

Fever -> rule out left ventricular failure TMP-SMX prophylaxis -> rule out Pneumocystis jiroveci Kidney transplant but no WBC/RBC in urine -> rule out transplant rejection

Leaving CMV and atypical mycobacterium as the remaining two options. CMV is more likely in a transplant patient.

get full access to all contentpick a username



 +4  upvote downvote
submitted by โˆ—hayayah(1212)
get full access to all contentpick a username

CMV is associated with infecting organ transplant patients. CMV is transmitted via sexual contact, organ transplant, or vertically via placenta. Reactivation of CMV occurs in the immunosuppressed.

Organ transplant patients are at an increased risk of CMV pneumonia.

get full access to all contentpick a username



 +2  upvote downvote
submitted by โˆ—lifeisruff(3)
get full access to all contentpick a username

he was never given ganciclovir - i used that as a clue over transplant rejection

get full access to all contentpick a username



 +1  upvote downvote
submitted by โˆ—mrglass(47)
get full access to all contentpick a username

Why would this not be acute transplant rejection leading to ARDS? The creatinine is elevated, and I see any reason why it would be elevated beyond rejection

get full access to all contentpick a username
sammyj98  I selected the same. I think part of the question wanted us to recognize that the pt was not receiving CMV prophylaxis (hinted that they are getting TMP-SMX but no Gancyclovir) so they're at really high risk for CMV specifically. UpToDate: โ€ขUniversal prophylaxis with valganciclovir or ganciclovir is typically given to patients at risk for cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation (eg, seropositive recipients and those with seropositive donors). The duration of therapy often depends on the type of organ transplanted, the risk status of the patient, and individual institutional practice. Some transplant centers prefer to use a pre-emptive approach (eg, routine CMV viral load monitoring within initiation of treatment when reactivation becomes evident) for specific patient populations. (See 'Cytomegalovirus' above.) +1
utap2001  I was also confused by acute rejection. CMV cannot be completely D/D with rejection. But the drug used is hint. The stem says they used cyclosporine, prednisone. That should rule out rejection. +

via @sammyj98 via UpToDate:

Universal prophylaxis with valganciclovir or ganciclovir is typically given to patients at risk for cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation (eg, seropositive recipients and those with seropositive donors). The duration of therapy often depends on the type of organ transplanted, the risk status of the patient, and individual institutional practice. Some transplant centers prefer to use a pre-emptive approach (eg, routine CMV viral load monitoring within initiation of treatment when reactivation becomes evident) for specific patient populations.

+5/- drdoom(1206)


Must-See Comments from nbme20

amorah on Cytomegalovirus infection
masonkingcobra on Contact with parakeets
hayayah on Capillary hydrostatic: increased; ...
hayayah on X chromosome-linked isoenzymes
medbitch94 on Mannose 6-phosphate
hello on Capillary hydrostatic: increased; ...
hayayah on Osteoblasts
imgdoc on Hypophosphatemia
hayayah on Missense
celeste on 50%
justgettinby on Omeprazole
andrewk1 on Cold, dry air
yotsubato on Jugular venous pressure of 12 mm Hg
strugglebus on Drug effect

search for anything NEW!