Skip to content
Brainliest
Practice sessionHEALTHCARE & MEDICAL EXAMSMEDICAL LICENSING

USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) Practice Exam 06

Practice exam for USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination).

Active sessionUSMLE overviewUSMLE Step 1USMLE Step 2 CKUSMLE Step 3medical licensing exam+1
Jump to questionsBrowse catalog
Question 1 of 390%
Time remaining180:00
Attempts allowedUnlimited
Difficulty mixE • M • H
Back to exams

Question 1

MEDIUM

A 62-year-old man with long-standing hypertension is started on a medication that decreases angiotensin II formation. Two weeks later, laboratory studies show an increase in serum potassium. Which change at the level of the renal collecting duct most directly explains this finding?

ACE inhibitors lower angiotensin II and thereby reduce aldosterone secretion. Aldosterone normally increases ENaC expression/activity in principal cells, promoting Na+ reabsorption and creating a lumen-negative potential that drives K+ secretion. Reduced aldosterone decreases ENaC activity, lowering K+ secretion and causing hyperkalemia. A key distractor is increased Na+-K+-2Cl− cotransporter activity (loop diuretic target); this would not explain hyperkalemia from ACE inhibition.

Select one answer

Question 1 of 39

Community

Loading ranked answers and discussion...

Manage your cookie preferences

We use essential cookies to make Brainliest work. With your permission, we’d also like to use analytics and marketing cookies to improve your experience.