American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the ABIM Certification Exam. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, with hints and explanations for each. Get ready to succeed!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is a common complication of severe Middle East respiratory syndrome?

Myocarditis
Acute kidney injury
Pneumonia
Sepsis

The correct answer is: Pneumonia

A common complication of severe Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is acute kidney injury. MERS, caused by the MERS-CoV virus, is associated with a high rate of severe respiratory symptoms, but it can also lead to complications beyond the pulmonary system. In cases of severe MERS, patients may experience various complications, including acute kidney injury, which can occur due to direct viral effects on the kidneys or secondary to severe systemic illness impacting renal function. This complication is significant and has been documented in patients with MERS. While pneumonia is a fundamental part of the presentation of MERS due to the disease primarily affecting the respiratory system, it is not characterized as a complication per se since it is one of the main conditions resulting from the infection. In contrast, acute kidney injury emerges as a treatment challenge and carries implications for managing the patient's overall health. Understanding the range of complications associated with MERS is critical for effective patient management and can inform therapeutic approaches.