ABIM Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant
Cardiology Questions WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which hemodynamic profile defines cardiogenic shock in
advanced HF?
A. CI >2.5 L/min/m², PCWP <15
B. CI <2.2 L/min/m², PCWP >18
C. CI >2.2 L/min/m², PCWP >18
D. CI <2.2 L/min/m², PCWP <15
Correct: B – Low cardiac output with elevated filling pressures
defines cardiogenic shock.
2. The strongest indication for referral to advanced HF therapy
is:
A. NYHA class II symptoms
B. EF <40%
C. Recurrent HF hospitalizations despite GDMT
D. Asymptomatic LV dysfunction
Correct: C – Recurrent decompensation despite optimal therapy
signals advanced HF.
,3. INTERMACS Profile 1 describes:
A. Stable outpatient on inotropes
B. Progressive decline on oral therapy
C. Cardiogenic shock (“crash and burn”)
D. NYHA III symptoms
Correct: C – Profile 1 is critical cardiogenic shock.
4. Which medication improves survival in HFrEF?
A. Digoxin
B. Ivabradine
C. ACE inhibitor
D. Loop diuretics
Correct: C – ACE inhibitors reduce mortality in HFrEF.
5. The primary goal of inotrope therapy in stage D HF is:
A. Long-term survival
B. Symptom palliation or bridge therapy
C. Reverse remodeling
D. Blood pressure control
Correct: B – Inotropes are for palliation or as a bridge to
advanced therapy.
6. Which finding contraindicates heart transplantation?
,A. BMI 32 kg/m²
B. Pulmonary vascular resistance >5 Wood units (fixed)
C. Diabetes mellitus
D. Age 62 years
Correct: B – Fixed severe pulmonary hypertension risks RV
failure post-transplant.
7. The most common cause of early post-transplant mortality
is:
A. Acute cellular rejection
B. Infection
C. Cardiac allograft vasculopathy
D. Malignancy
Correct: B – Infection dominates early mortality.
8. Which test best screens for acute cellular rejection?
A. Cardiac MRI
B. Echocardiography
C. Endomyocardial biopsy
D. BNP level
Correct: C – Biopsy remains the gold standard.
9. Cardiac allograft vasculopathy is best described as:
, A. Focal epicardial stenosis
B. Diffuse concentric intimal hyperplasia
C. Vasospasm
D. Thrombotic occlusion
Correct: B – CAV is diffuse and concentric.
10. The immunosuppressant most associated with
nephrotoxicity is:
A. Mycophenolate mofetil
B. Azathioprine
C. Tacrolimus
D. Prednisone
Correct: C – Calcineurin inhibitors cause nephrotoxicity.
11. Which LVAD complication presents with GI bleeding and
angiodysplasia?
A. Pump thrombosis
B. Right heart failure
C. Acquired von Willebrand disease
D. Driveline infection
Correct: C – Continuous-flow LVADs cause acquired vWF
deficiency.
12. The most common cause of death in LVAD patients is:
Cardiology Questions WITH CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which hemodynamic profile defines cardiogenic shock in
advanced HF?
A. CI >2.5 L/min/m², PCWP <15
B. CI <2.2 L/min/m², PCWP >18
C. CI >2.2 L/min/m², PCWP >18
D. CI <2.2 L/min/m², PCWP <15
Correct: B – Low cardiac output with elevated filling pressures
defines cardiogenic shock.
2. The strongest indication for referral to advanced HF therapy
is:
A. NYHA class II symptoms
B. EF <40%
C. Recurrent HF hospitalizations despite GDMT
D. Asymptomatic LV dysfunction
Correct: C – Recurrent decompensation despite optimal therapy
signals advanced HF.
,3. INTERMACS Profile 1 describes:
A. Stable outpatient on inotropes
B. Progressive decline on oral therapy
C. Cardiogenic shock (“crash and burn”)
D. NYHA III symptoms
Correct: C – Profile 1 is critical cardiogenic shock.
4. Which medication improves survival in HFrEF?
A. Digoxin
B. Ivabradine
C. ACE inhibitor
D. Loop diuretics
Correct: C – ACE inhibitors reduce mortality in HFrEF.
5. The primary goal of inotrope therapy in stage D HF is:
A. Long-term survival
B. Symptom palliation or bridge therapy
C. Reverse remodeling
D. Blood pressure control
Correct: B – Inotropes are for palliation or as a bridge to
advanced therapy.
6. Which finding contraindicates heart transplantation?
,A. BMI 32 kg/m²
B. Pulmonary vascular resistance >5 Wood units (fixed)
C. Diabetes mellitus
D. Age 62 years
Correct: B – Fixed severe pulmonary hypertension risks RV
failure post-transplant.
7. The most common cause of early post-transplant mortality
is:
A. Acute cellular rejection
B. Infection
C. Cardiac allograft vasculopathy
D. Malignancy
Correct: B – Infection dominates early mortality.
8. Which test best screens for acute cellular rejection?
A. Cardiac MRI
B. Echocardiography
C. Endomyocardial biopsy
D. BNP level
Correct: C – Biopsy remains the gold standard.
9. Cardiac allograft vasculopathy is best described as:
, A. Focal epicardial stenosis
B. Diffuse concentric intimal hyperplasia
C. Vasospasm
D. Thrombotic occlusion
Correct: B – CAV is diffuse and concentric.
10. The immunosuppressant most associated with
nephrotoxicity is:
A. Mycophenolate mofetil
B. Azathioprine
C. Tacrolimus
D. Prednisone
Correct: C – Calcineurin inhibitors cause nephrotoxicity.
11. Which LVAD complication presents with GI bleeding and
angiodysplasia?
A. Pump thrombosis
B. Right heart failure
C. Acquired von Willebrand disease
D. Driveline infection
Correct: C – Continuous-flow LVADs cause acquired vWF
deficiency.
12. The most common cause of death in LVAD patients is:
