Page Contents
OVERVIEW
This page is dedicated to organizing various examples of standardized exam questions whose topic is primary biliary cirrhosis/primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). While this may seem a odd practice, it is useful to see multiple examples of how PBC 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 PBC.
- Middle aged women are the classic patient demographic (presents insidiously)
- Fatigue is a very common complaint
- Pruritus: patients may have a long history of itchy skin. Typically worse at night
- Pale stools may be in the patient history
- Xanthelasma formation due to hypercholesterolemia
- Anti-Mitochondrial antibodies
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: autoimmune liver disease characterized by destruction of intrahepatic, interloper bile ducts by granulomatous inflammation.
Page Updated: 04.28.2017