NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

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Ace your North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) with our comprehensive practice test. Features include interactive flashcards, multiple-choice questions, with detailed hints and explanations. Fast-track your pharmacy career today!

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What is a characteristic of distributive shock?

High SVR, low CO
Low SVR, initially high CO followed by low or normal CO
High CO, normal SVR
Low CO, normal SVR

The correct answer is: Low SVR, initially high CO followed by low or normal CO

In distributive shock, there is a decrease in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) due to vasodilation, which results in low SVR. Initially, there may be compensatory mechanisms in place leading to an increase in cardiac output (CO); however, as distributive shock progresses, there can be a subsequent decrease in CO or a return to normal CO. Therefore, the correct characteristic of distributive shock is "Low SVR, initially high CO followed by low or normal CO." The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the characteristic of distributive shock. High SVR and low CO (Option A) are more indicative of cardiogenic shock. High CO and normal SVR (Option C) are not characteristic of distributive shock. Low CO and normal SVR (Option D) do not represent the typical hemodynamic profile seen in distributive shock.