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Retired NBME 23 Answers

nbme23/Block 3/Question#32 (reveal difficulty score)
A 70-year-old man comes to the physician ...
Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis ๐Ÿ” / ๐Ÿ“บ / ๐ŸŒณ / ๐Ÿ“–
tags: renal Prostaglandins hy

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submitted by โˆ—sajaqua1(607)
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The macula densa of the nephron helps maintain tubular flow by adjusting dilation of the afferent arteriole of the nephron. When salt is low, its COX enzymes synthesize PGI2 which dilate the afferent arteriole. NSAIDs inhibit COX, blocking synthesis of PGI2 and so indirectly inhibiting afferent arteriole dilation. Two weeks ago our patient was put on ibuprofen, a non-selective COX inhibitor. This lead to all these effects, shutting off blood supply to the nephrons, creating an artifically induced drop in blood flow that looks has elevated BUN and creatinine, but maintains the 15:1 ratio.

https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/aa36271#aa36282

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step1dreamteam  I think the best explanation is more related to analgesic nephropathy due to NSAIDS: NSAIDS-->PG absent-->constriction of medullary blood vessels-->chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis (RENAL kidney failure)= BUN:Cr<15:1. Vasoconstriction of afferent arteriole (due to low PG) does not explain why BUN:Cr<15:1 in the question +



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submitted by โˆ—brise(86)
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so I was stuck on this because his BUN /creatinine ratio led me to think he had an intrinsic renal dysfunction. And a PGI2 inhibition would lead to a pre-renal azotemia, where the BUN/ creatinine ratio would be more than 20. I know that NSAIDs inhibit PGIS. But how are you supposed to cross out induction of distal tubular acidosis?

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purdude  You can cross out Distal RTA because the urine pH is 5. In Distal RTA, urine pH becomes greater than 5.5 because a-IC cells can't secrete H+ +2
thotcandy  pH > 5.5 is only true for Type I RTA. Type 2 RTA is proximal so that wouldn't be considered anyways. Type 4, however, urine pH would be < 5.5 and can be caused by NSAIDs, so how do we eliminate that? +1
thotcandy  pH > 5.5 is only true for Type I RTA. Type 2 RTA is proximal so that wouldn't be considered anyways. Type 4, however, urine pH would be < 5.5 and can be caused by NSAIDs, so how do we eliminate that? +1
underd0g  @thotcandy Distal RTA is another name for Type 1 RTA, so that is the type of RTA that they are specifically referring to in that answer choice. +2
solidshake  ^agreed. Type 4 RTA is not an option as an answer. Type 4 is a result of low aldosterone or aldosterone resistance -> hyperkalemia -> impaired NH3 synthesis in the Proximal tubule -> impaired NH4 formation -> high tubule H+ -> tubular acidosis +
fatboyslim  I think the NSAIDs inhibited prostaglandin synthesis -> renal ischemia -> tubular necrosis. That's maybe why his BUN/Cr is <15 +1
chaosawaits  a quick Google search tells me that distal RTA usually has a urine pH > 5.3 +



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