A 32-Year-Old Woman Is Evaluated for Cough and Shortness of Breath

A 32-year-old woman is evaluated for cough and shortness of breath while mountain climbing.  She has no chronic medical problems and takes no medication.  The patient does not use tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs.  On examination, temperature is 36.5 C (97.7 F) , blood pressure is 134/84 mm Hg, pulse is 110/min, and respirations are 20/min.  BMI is 25 kg/m².  Oxygen saturation is 84% on ambient air.  Perioral cyanosis is present.  She is in moderate respiratory distress.  Pulmonary examination reveals bilateral inspiratory crackles.  Chest x-ray reveals normal heart size and bilateral patchy lung infiltrates.  Therapy for this patient would most likely focus on which of the following?

A) Increasing coronary blood flow
B) Increasing hypoxic ventilatory response
C) Increasing systemic vascular resistance
D) Reducing left ventricular end-diastolic pressure
E) Reducing pericardial pressure
F) Reducing pulmonary artery pressure

Correct Answer:

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