Cell injury and death · USMLE Step 1

A patient suffers from prolonged ischemia to the heart leading to irreversible injury. Which of the following is the earliest sign of irreversible cell injury?

  1. Cellular swelling
  2. Loss of membrane integrity
  3. Nuclear chromatin clumping
  4. Decreased oxidative phosphorylation
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Correct answer: Loss of membrane integrity

Loss of membrane integrity is the hallmark of irreversible injury, allowing leakage of intracellular enzymes and ions.

Difficulty: Medium Question 1 of 20

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