USMLE-Rx Step 1 Qmax Challenge #4091

Check out today’s Step 1 Qmax Question Challenge.

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A 70-year-old man complains of a long history of pain in his ankles, toes, and fingers. He has experienced intermittent acute attacks of exquisite pain every few months, followed by completely asymptomatic periods. In recent years, he has had near-constant discomfort at baseline, and now has permanent “swelling” in many of the joints of his fingers and toes. Joint fluid is aspirated, and the fluid is examined under polarized light (shown in the image). Treatment is initiated, and the patient’s uric acid levels gradually fall.

What is the mechanism of action of the best treatment?

A. Binds tubulin
B. Blocks formation of prostaglandins and thromboxane from arachidonic acid
C. Inhibits release of phospholipase A2
D. Inhibits xanthine oxidase
E. Selective, competitive angiotensin II receptor inhibition

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