Patient with signs/symptoms of mixed cryoglobulinemia (weakness, arthralgias, palpable purpura, positive cryoglobulins on labs) most likely secondary to hepatitis C contracted during blood transfusion (positive Hep C viral RNA), and therefore the patient should receive interferon-alpha therapy against the hepatitis C
Key idea: This test question is a bit outdated, with hepatitis C now being treated with combination of NS5A/B inhibitors (ledipasvir, velpatasvir, sofosbuvir, etc.) and NS3/4A inhibitors (simeprevir, etc.)
Key idea: To confirm diagnosis of hepatitis C, antibody testing needs to be followed up by viral RNA because hepatitis C will be spontaneously cleared by the body in 15-25% (no chronic Hep C)
submitted by โstep_prep5(246)
https://step-prep.org/tutoring/