American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

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

Prepare for the ABS QE with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question provides hints and explanations to enhance understanding. Start your journey to becoming a certified surgeon and tackle your exam with confidence!

Start Multiple Choice Practice Test
Start Flash Cards

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.

Clinical signs of cardiomyopathy can be related to deficiencies in which trace element?

  1. Zinc

  2. Selenium

  3. Copper

  4. Iron

The correct answer is: Selenium

The clinical signs of cardiomyopathy can be associated with a deficiency in selenium due to its crucial role as a component of selenoproteins, which are essential for various bodily functions, including antioxidant defense and maintaining proper cardiac function. Selenium has been shown to be important for the production of glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme that protects cells from oxidative stress. This oxidative damage can contribute to the development of cardiomyopathy, highlighting the relevance of selenium supplementation in cases of deficiency. In contrast, while zinc, copper, and iron are important trace elements with roles in various bodily functions, their deficiencies are typically associated with different types of health issues. Zinc deficiency may lead to immune dysfunction and skin problems, copper deficiency can cause anemia and connective tissue disorders, and iron deficiency is primarily linked with anemia and its related symptoms. However, selenium specifically has a direct connection to cardiovascular health and cardiomyopathy.

More Questions Like This