Iran Specialty Board - Internal Medicine study guide
Iran Specialty Board - Internal Medicine · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Iran Specialty Board Examination in Internal Medicine (بورد تخصصی داخلی) is the national certifying assessment that internal medicine residents sit near the end of their training to practise as internists in Iran. It is aimed at residents completing the Iranian internal medicine residency, and it is delivered in Persian, usually on computer, as a multiple-choice examination. The Iran Specialty Board - Internal Medicine study guide has 12 sections and about 3,829 words.
01Cardiology
The cardiology block tests whether you can convert a presentation into a time-critical decision: read the ECG, choose the reperfusion strategy, and start guideline-directed therapy without delay. STEMI: reperfusion if within 12 h of symptom onset.
341 words, about 2 min02Pulmonology
Pulmonology questions reward pattern recognition on spirometry, arterial blood gases, and imaging, plus the safety steps in acute respiratory presentations. Diagnosis requires post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.70.
295 words, about 1 min03Gastroenterology and Hepatology
This block concentrates on gastrointestinal bleeding, decompensated cirrhosis, and acute pancreatitis - situations where a few hours change the outcome. Resuscitate before endoscopy, with restrictive transfusion (threshold Hb <7 g/dL, or <8 g/dL with cardiovascular disease).
324 words, about 2 min04Nephrology and Fluid-Electrolyte Disorders
This section tests systematic acid-base and electrolyte reasoning, AKI staging, and recognition of when dialysis can no longer wait. KDIGO: creatinine rise ≥0.3 mg/dL within 48 h, ≥1.5× baseline within 7 days, or urine output <0.5 mL/kg/h for 6 h.
316 words, about 2 min05Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
The endocrine block mixes emergencies (DKA, thyroid storm, adrenal crisis) with chronic decisions in diabetes and bone disease. DKA: glucose usually 250 mg/dL, pH <7.30, bicarbonate <18, positive ketones, anion gap 10-12.
324 words, about 2 min06Hematology and Oncology
Expect the anaemia algorithm, oncologic emergencies, and coagulopathy - questions that combine laboratory interpretation with a single urgent action. Start with MCV and the reticulocyte index.
294 words, about 1 min07Infectious Diseases
This block tests time-critical sepsis care, central nervous system infection, and infections with strong regional epidemiology, including brucellosis and tuberculosis. The hour-1 bundle: measure lactate, draw blood cultures before antibiotics, give broad-spectrum antibiotics within one hour in septic shock, give 30 mL/kg crystalloid for hypotension or lactate ≥4, and start norepinephrine to keep MAP ≥65 mmHg.
335 words, about 2 min08Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
The rheumatology block asks you to recognise a pattern, interpret autoantibodies in context, and act immediately when an organ is threatened. c-ANCA/anti-PR3 points to granulomatosis with polyangiitis (upper airway, lung, kidney); p-ANCA/anti-MPO suggests microscopic polyangiitis or eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
315 words, about 2 min09Neurology
Neurology questions centre on reperfusion windows, seizure escalation, and neuromuscular respiratory failure - plus recognising the stroke mimics. Non-contrast CT excludes haemorrhage.
323 words, about 2 min10Dermatology and Allergy
This block tests morphology, the severity grading of drug eruptions, and the single most important drug in allergy - epinephrine. Give epinephrine 0.3-0.5 mg intramuscularly (1 mg/mL) into the vastus lateralis and repeat every 5-15 min as needed.
327 words, about 2 min11Geriatrics, Palliative Care, and General Internal Medicine
This section tests atypical presentation in older adults, deprescribing, and the communication skills that define goals of care. Acute fluctuating inattention and altered awareness, identified with the Confusion Assessment Method.
320 words, about 2 min12Critical Care and Emergency Internal Medicine
The critical care block asks for rapid haemodynamic classification, lung-protective ventilation, and antidote-level knowledge of toxidromes. Classify haemodynamics: hypovolaemic (low filling pressures, low cardiac output), cardiogenic (high filling pressures, low output), distributive (low systemic vascular resistance), obstructive (high filling pressures with low output).
315 words, about 2 min