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OVERVIEW
This page is dedicated to organizing various examples of standardized exam questions whose topic is hemophilia A. While this may seem a odd practice, it is useful to see multiple examples of how hemophilia A will be characterized on standardized exams (namely the boards and the shelf exams). This page is not meant to be used as a traditional question bank (as all of the answers will be the same), however seeing the classic “test” characterization for a topic is quite valuable.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS CONDITION (ON EXAMS)
When it comes to standardized exams, each topic has its own “code” marked by key buzzwords, lab findings, clues, etc. If you are well versed in this code you will be able to more quickly identify the condition that is being discussed, and get the right answer on the exam you are taking. Below is the “code” for hemophilia A.
- Family history of bleeding issues (especially in male relatives) is a strong hint for this condition.
- Coagulation study test results:
- Elevated PTT
- Normal PT
- Normal bleeding time
QUESTION EXAMPLES
Question # 1
Explanation # 1
Question # 2
Explanation # 2
TESTABLE FACTS ABOUT THIS TOPIC (BEYOND ITS IDENTIFICATION)
Many questions on standardized exams go beyond simply recognizing the underlying topic. Often there are specific testable facts regarding some aspect of the topic’s pathophysiology/management/clinical implications that are commonly asked. Some of these are listed below:
- Cause: deficiency in clotting factor VIII of the coagulation cascade
- Component of the intrinsic clotting cascade
- Factor VIII is vitamin K dependnet
- What if patients don’t respond to treatment: If patients do not improve after recombinant factor VIII supplementation, test them for the presence of factor VIII inhibitors (antibodies that antagonize this factor which can develop over time in patients).
Page Updated: 04.25.2017