Sitting Up in Medicine / Internal Medicine — 55yo Man | Cardiology | SMLE Q#11143

SMLE Question #11143

Medicine / Internal Medicine Cardiology

Objective: OBJ-163

Last updated: February 2026
A 55-year-old man has several months of progressive exertional dyspnea and reduced exercise tolerance. Cardiac examination reveals a high-pitched, blowing early diastolic decrescendo murmur best heard at the left upper sternal border with the patient sitting up and leaning forward; it is louder with expiration. He has bounding peripheral pulses and a wide pulse pressure. Chest radiography shows cardiomegaly, and ECG shows left ventricular hypertrophy. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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