Internal Medicine Practice Test 2025 – Complete UWorld Exam Prep

The condition indicated by easy bruising and prolonged mucocutaneous bleeding is most consistent with von Willebrand disease. This is a common inherited bleeding disorder characterized by a deficiency in von Willebrand factor, which is crucial for platelet adhesion during the clotting process. Patients typically present with symptoms such as easy bruising, prolonged bleeding from cuts, and excessive mucosal bleeding, such as nosebleeds or heavy menstrual periods.

In von Willebrand disease, the deficiency or dysfunction of von Willebrand factor leads to ineffective platelet function, although the platelet count may be normal. This results in a tendency for bleeding, particularly in mucosal areas, which aligns with the symptoms described.

While other conditions like hemophilia A and vitamin K deficiency can also lead to bleeding, they are characterized differently. Hemophilia primarily results in joint and deep tissue bleeding rather than mucosal bleeding, and vitamin K deficiency usually presents with a more generalized bleeding tendency and is typically associated with prolonged PT (prothrombin time), which is not highlighted here. Immune thrombocytopenia can cause easy bruising as well, but it is more associated with a markedly low platelet count and can present with petechiae and purpura without the specific mucocutaneous