Sample questions

• 1-A 23 years old female has a history of palpitations and shortness of breath on exertion for 2 months. Complete blood count (CBC) shows that her Hb is 7.2 g/dL, MCV 52.3 fL, WBC 6.0 K/UL, Platelets 580 K/UL.

  Which of the following conditions can explain these findings?

  1. Aplastic anemia
  2. Iron deficiency anemia
  3. Sickle cell anemia
  4. Megaloblastic anemia

      

      

      

• 2-Patients with Beta thalassemia major are at increased risk of which of the following complications secondary to iron overload:
  1. Peptic ulcer disease
  2. Deep venous thrombosis
  3. Lung fibrosis
  4. Heart failure

      

• 3-A 36 years old patient presents with progressive fatigue and epistaxis for 2 weeks. Complete blood count (CBC) shows:  Hb 5.2 g/dL, MCV 85 fL, WBC 35 K/UL, Platelets 18 K/UL. Blasts are seen on the peripheral blood film. A bone marrow aspiration shows that normal hematopoiesis is decreased, and that blasts represent 75% of the bone marrow elements. Myeloid markers are detected on the blasts through flowcytometry.

  The diagnosis is:

  1. Chronic myeloid leukemia
  2. Acute myeloid leukemia
  3. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  4. Hairy cell leukemia

      

• 4-Which of the following conditions may explain prolongation of both PTT and PT:

1. Disseminated intravascular coagulation
2. Unfractionated heparin infusion
3. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
4. Hereditary factor VIII deficiency (hemophilia A)

• 5-Which of the following abnormalities are expected in patients with hemolysis:

  a. Conjugated hyperbilirubinrmia

  b. Hypernatremia

  c. Increased LDH

  d. Hypocalcemia 

   

   

• 6-Which of the following medications may cause immune mediated platelet destruction

  a. Heparin

  b. Methylprednisolone

  c. Folic acid

  d. Doxorubicin

   

   

• 7-Which of the following statements about febrile neutropenia occurring in patients receiving chemotherapy is correct:

  a. It is defined as temperature of more than 38.6ºC and an absolute neutrophil count of 2 K/UL or less

  b. Blood cultures should be immediately collected and results should be awaited before starting antibiotics

  c. The most likely cause of febrile neutropenia is the underlying malignancy

  d. Febrile neutropenia may be accompanied by systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)

   

   

• 8-All of the following patients have severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count <10 k/UL) and are NOT bleeding and NOT planned to undergo an invasive procedure. In which case would a prophylactic platelet transfusion be indicated?
  1. A patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
  2. A patient with immune thrombocytopenic purpura
  3. A patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
  4. A patient with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

      

      

• 9-Which of the following is an indication for transfusion of plasma (FFP):
  1. Hemophilia A with inhibitors
  2. Chronic liver disease and bleeding
  3. Sepsis and hypotension
  4. Acute myeloid leukemia and bleeding

      

      

• 10-A 35 years old female develops post partum hemorrhage and requires transfusion of many units of packed red blood cells (PRBCs). Her blood group is B Rh positive (B+). No more B Rh positive (B+) units are available in the blood bank.

  Which of the following units of PRBCs can be transfused to this patient as units carrying the same blood group are not available?

  1. A Rh positive (A+)
  2. A  Rh negative (A-)
  3. B  Rh negative (B-)
  4. AB Rh negative (AB-)