WBR0471
| Author | [[PageAuthor::Rim Halaby, M.D. [1] (Reviewed by Alison Leibowitz)]] |
|---|---|
| Exam Type | ExamType::USMLE Step 1 |
| Main Category | MainCategory::Pathology |
| Sub Category | SubCategory::Hematology |
| Prompt | [[Prompt::A 12-year-old African male, with a history of beta-thalassemia major, is brought to the physician's office for a routine bone marrow transplantation (BMT) work-up. Prior to BMT, liver biopsy is performed to calculate Pesaro class risk for the patient. Which of the following findings is most likely observed upon liver biopsy?]] |
| Answer A | AnswerA::Hepatocyte accumulation of copper |
| Answer A Explanation | [[AnswerAExp::The accumulation of cupper frequently occurs in Wilson's disease.]] |
| Answer B | AnswerB::Hepatocyte accumulation of iron |
| Answer B Explanation | AnswerBExp::The accumulation of iron frequently occurs following recurrent transfusions, administered to patients with thalassemia major or hemochromatosis. |
| Answer C | AnswerC::Hepatocyte accumulation of lead |
| Answer C Explanation | AnswerCExp::Lead does not frequently accumulate in the livers of individuals with thalassemia major. |
| Answer D | AnswerD::Hepatocyte accumulation of calcium |
| Answer D Explanation | AnswerDExp::Thalassemia major is not associated with calcium accumulation. |
| Answer E | AnswerE::Hepatocyte accumulation of lipids |
| Answer E Explanation | [[AnswerEExp::Hepatic steatosis, or accumulation of lipids in the liver, is associated with chronic alcoholism.]] |
| Right Answer | RightAnswer::B |
| Explanation | [[Explanation::Beta-thalassemia major, an inherited hematological disorder, is characterized by the reduced (or absent) production of a beta-globin chain of hemoglobin proteins, resulting from a point mutation in splice sites or promoter sequences. It manifests as severe anemia, and subsequent ineffective erythropoiesis, which eventually cause bone marrow expansion.
Cases of Beta-thalassemia major are often reported in the Mediterranean region, Africa, and Southeast Asia. In individuals with beta-thalassemia major, chronic red cell transfusions are considered the optimal therapy for relieving symptoms. Repeated transfusions are associated with iron overload, requiring the administration of iron-chelating therapy, frequently with deferoxamine. Bone marrow transplant is considered the only cure for patients with beta-thalassemia major. Pesaro classification, a detailed pre-BMT evaluation often used to predict outcomes following transplant, evaluates three independent risk factors: Hepatomegaly on physical examination, portal fibrosis on liver biopsy, and adequacy of iron chelation. |
| Approved | Approved::Yes |
| Keyword | WBRKeyword::Beta-thalassemia, WBRKeyword::Mediterranean, WBRKeyword::inherited, WBRKeyword::Liver, WBRKeyword::Hepatocyte, WBRKeyword::Iron accumulation, WBRKeyword::Deferoxamine, WBRKeyword::Bone marrow transplant, WBRKeyword::Pesaro, WBRKeyword::Transfusions, WBRKeyword::BMT |
| Linked Question | Linked:: |
| Order in Linked Questions | LinkedOrder:: |