PC705 Module 2 Study Guide Exam
Questions with Correct Answers 2025-
2026 Updated.
What is Polycythemia? - Answer elevated RBC mass or high Hgb levels (overproduction)
What are the types of polycythemias? - Answer Polycythemia Vera (Primary), Secondary, and
relative
Primary Polycythemia (Vera) - Answer normal RBC mass, low plasma volume; body
autonomously (on its own) increases RBC production
Pathophysiology of Polycythemia Vera (Primary) - Answer abnormal STEM cell proliferation
(JAK2 mutation promotes uncontrolled cell production); autonomous RBC production without
erythropoietin regulation; some of this genomic instability can promote the transformation of
other types of proliferation (WBCs and AML)
Secondary Polycythemia - Answer high erythropoietin levels, hypoxia; caused by hypoxia
(not sudden, over time)
How does hypoxia cause secondary polycythemia? - Answer people that live in high
altitudes, have sleep apnea or heart disease adapt to lower oxygen tension in the air by
increasing RBCs to compensate for decreased oxygen carrying capacity
Relative Polycythemia - Answer low erythropoietin levels, JAK2+; caused by decreased
plasma volume
Causes of relative polycythemia - Answer dehydration, burns, stress polycythemia
Primary Hypertension Patho - Answer likely multi-factorial (genetics, environment); strong
associations with obesity, high salt intake, physical inactivity; may develop resistance to
vasodilation and increased sympathetic activity
Secondary Hypertension Patho - Answer caused by endocrine disorders
(hyperaldosteronism, pheochromocytoma, Cushing's); renal issues (renal artery stenosis, CKD);
, stage 1: 130-139/80-89
stage 2: >140/90
Risk Factors for PVD - Answer nonmodifiable: >50 years, men (higher risk), family hx of
cardiac diseases
modifiable: smoking, HTN, diabetes, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol), obesity
What is ABI? - Answer ankle brachial index; a noninvasive test comparing BPs in the ankle
and in the arm
ABI = 2 higher systolic pressures in the ankle / 2 higher systolic pressures in the arm
ABI values - Answer normal: 1.0-1.4; borderline: 0.9-0.99; moderate PAD: 0.4-0.7; severe
PAD: <0.4
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Patho - Answer atherosclerotic narrowing of arteries,
primarily in legs; symptoms often worsen with activity due to increased oxygen demand in
muscles
Causes of PAD - Answer atherosclerosis (build up of plaque inside arterial walls, narrowing
arteries), inflammation of arteries (damage from autoimmune disease or infection),
trauma/injury to blood vessels, radiation exposure that damages arteries
PVD ssx - Answer cold feet/legs, gangrene in severe cases, weak/absent pulse in feet,
nonhealing wounds and ulcers, pain in calves while walking (claudication)
Dx of PAD - Answer ABI, doppler ultrasound, angiography
Tx of PAD - Answer lifestyle modifications, medications (ASA, statins, vasodilators),
angioplasty, stenting, bypass surgery
Characteristics of PAD - Answer arterial; pain is worse w/ activity (claudication), cold & pale
extremities, weak or absent pulses, ulcers on toes or feet, gangrene in severe cases
Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) Patho - Answer the veins in the legs cannot efficiently
return blood back to the heart, this happens when the vein valves become damaged or fail (vein
Questions with Correct Answers 2025-
2026 Updated.
What is Polycythemia? - Answer elevated RBC mass or high Hgb levels (overproduction)
What are the types of polycythemias? - Answer Polycythemia Vera (Primary), Secondary, and
relative
Primary Polycythemia (Vera) - Answer normal RBC mass, low plasma volume; body
autonomously (on its own) increases RBC production
Pathophysiology of Polycythemia Vera (Primary) - Answer abnormal STEM cell proliferation
(JAK2 mutation promotes uncontrolled cell production); autonomous RBC production without
erythropoietin regulation; some of this genomic instability can promote the transformation of
other types of proliferation (WBCs and AML)
Secondary Polycythemia - Answer high erythropoietin levels, hypoxia; caused by hypoxia
(not sudden, over time)
How does hypoxia cause secondary polycythemia? - Answer people that live in high
altitudes, have sleep apnea or heart disease adapt to lower oxygen tension in the air by
increasing RBCs to compensate for decreased oxygen carrying capacity
Relative Polycythemia - Answer low erythropoietin levels, JAK2+; caused by decreased
plasma volume
Causes of relative polycythemia - Answer dehydration, burns, stress polycythemia
Primary Hypertension Patho - Answer likely multi-factorial (genetics, environment); strong
associations with obesity, high salt intake, physical inactivity; may develop resistance to
vasodilation and increased sympathetic activity
Secondary Hypertension Patho - Answer caused by endocrine disorders
(hyperaldosteronism, pheochromocytoma, Cushing's); renal issues (renal artery stenosis, CKD);
, stage 1: 130-139/80-89
stage 2: >140/90
Risk Factors for PVD - Answer nonmodifiable: >50 years, men (higher risk), family hx of
cardiac diseases
modifiable: smoking, HTN, diabetes, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol), obesity
What is ABI? - Answer ankle brachial index; a noninvasive test comparing BPs in the ankle
and in the arm
ABI = 2 higher systolic pressures in the ankle / 2 higher systolic pressures in the arm
ABI values - Answer normal: 1.0-1.4; borderline: 0.9-0.99; moderate PAD: 0.4-0.7; severe
PAD: <0.4
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Patho - Answer atherosclerotic narrowing of arteries,
primarily in legs; symptoms often worsen with activity due to increased oxygen demand in
muscles
Causes of PAD - Answer atherosclerosis (build up of plaque inside arterial walls, narrowing
arteries), inflammation of arteries (damage from autoimmune disease or infection),
trauma/injury to blood vessels, radiation exposure that damages arteries
PVD ssx - Answer cold feet/legs, gangrene in severe cases, weak/absent pulse in feet,
nonhealing wounds and ulcers, pain in calves while walking (claudication)
Dx of PAD - Answer ABI, doppler ultrasound, angiography
Tx of PAD - Answer lifestyle modifications, medications (ASA, statins, vasodilators),
angioplasty, stenting, bypass surgery
Characteristics of PAD - Answer arterial; pain is worse w/ activity (claudication), cold & pale
extremities, weak or absent pulses, ulcers on toes or feet, gangrene in severe cases
Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) Patho - Answer the veins in the legs cannot efficiently
return blood back to the heart, this happens when the vein valves become damaged or fail (vein
