The top 50 high-yield USMLE® Step 1

topics
1. Overview of antibiotic therapy
2. Bacteria overview
3. Inborn errors of metabolism
4. Diabetes mellitus
5. Airways and lungs
6. Congenital immunodeficiency disorders
7. General virology
8. Epidemiology
9. Stroke
10. Vitamins
11. Cardiovascular physiology
12. Congestive heart failure
13. Cellular changes and adaptive responses
14. Erythrocyte morphology and hemoglobin
15. Acute coronary syndrome
16. Hypersensitivity reactions
17. Chemotherapeutic agents
18. Opioids
19. Physiology of the kidney
20. Pneumonia
21. Cranial nerve palsies
22. Cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis, cholecystitis, and cholangitis
23. Breast cancer
24. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
25. Antidepressants

26. Hepatitis B
27. Hemostasis and bleeding disorders
28. Immunosuppressants
29. Diuretics
30. Peripheral nerve injuries
31. Infective endocarditis
32. Signal transduction
33. Gastrointestinal tract
34. Disorders of sex development
35. Cytokines
36. Acute leukemia
37. Adaptive immune system
38. Asthma
39. General oncology
40. Basics of hematology
41. Lung cancer
42. Human immunodeficiency virus
43. Basics of human genetics
44. Nephrotic syndrome
45. Cardiomyopathy
46. Antidiabetic drugs
47. Antipsychotics
48. Meningitis
49. Brain tumors
50. Nephrolithiasis
Regarding grade & stage, just know the characteristics of high vs low-grade; N = node involvement
& most important sign of mets; M = distant mets & sign of worst prognosis. Doubt you need to know
the actual numbers.
1. Hepatitis markers (NOT only Hep B)
2. Signaling pathways of endocrine hormones (also Transcription Factors - not every detail,
but every time it shows up in FA, KNOW IT e.g. HOX gene, motif, etc)
3. Congenital adrenal hyperplasias & disorders of sexual development
4. Immunodeficiencies (but I have yet to see hyper-IgE or chronic mucocutaneous
candidiasis)
5. Hypersensitivities & transplant rejection (eg, host T lymphocytes against donor antigens)
6. Smoking -> dmgs pseudostratified ciliated epithelial cells FIRST
7. Type II pneumocyte question about: proliferate during lung dmg, secrete surfactant,
precursor to type I, etc
8. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma -> bone osteoBLASTic/SCLEROSIS metastasis (unique b/c
most bone mets are osteoLYTIC eg lung, thyroid)
9. BPH treatment MOA (a-antags vs 5a-reductase inhs vs PDE-5 inhs)
10. Endometriosis, Leiomyoma, Adenomyosis, Asherman
11. Tumor suppressor genes vs proto-oncogenes
12. Amino acid derivatives
13. Catecholamine synthesis pathway, related disorders, cofactors
14. Nucleotide excision repair & xeroderma pigmentosa (this topic is hotter than Hansel right
now)
15. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome vs Serotonin syndrome causes & treatments
16. Anesthetic principles: blood solubility = induction & recovery; lipid solubility = potency = 1/MAC
17. Dorsal column dmg sxs can be seen in B12 def, Vit E def, Tabes dorsalis, Beri-Beri (B1 def) 18.
Tons of Qs on cardiovascular physiology & related pharmacology 19. Collagen/Elastin synthesis &
related disorders. These can be painfully detailed 20. Hep B --> causes hepatocellular carcinoma b/c
DNA viruses get incorporated into your genome (eg, into a tumor suppressor gene), but Hep C more
likely to cause cirrhosis (which can cause HCC but less likely than Hep B) 21. Giardia
(campers/hikers) & know its appearance vs E. histolytica (engulfed RBCs) vs Cryptosporidium (acid
fast, usually immunocompromised) 22. 1ary CNS lymphoma (EBV) vs Toxo brain abscess vs other
non-HIV related brain tumors
Biochemistry
1. autosomal dominant or X-linked or mitochondrial
2. Patau vs. Edwards vs. Down Syndrome
3. Collagen/Elastin/insulin synthesis and corresponding diseases
4. amino acid derivatives, catecholamine synthesis
5. kartagener or cystic fibrosis [know CF real well]
6. pleiotropy or polygenic or heteroplasmy
7. Vitamin-E,B12,B3, Fataxia, Syphilis related neuropathy or parietal cell antibody
8. gluconeogenesis or HMP shunt
9. lysosome or mitochondria or proteasome or intron/exon
Immunology + Microbiology
1. 30s, 50s, aminoacyl transferase, resistance, beta lactamase, penicillin binding protein
2. Celiac or whipple
3. sexual transmitted infection (gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HSV, Haemophilus,
vaginosis, Trichomonas)
4. antiviral medication
5. recurrent bacterial/fungus/viral patient
6. PLACES or SHiNE bacteria
7. malaria or mycoplasma
8. Type 1/2/3/4 hypersensitivity, transplant rejection
9. Which vaccines are toxoid vs. live vs. killed
10. lymph node drainage
11. albino or vitiligo or Leukocyte adhesion or Chronic granulomatous or tetrazolium blue test
12. asthma drug or cyclosporine or tacrolimus or other immunosuppressive
13. HIV: progression, associated diseases, treatments and side effects
Public Health
1. false positive/negative, reliability, precision, accuracy
2. Cohort vs cross-sectional vs. case control vs. RCT
3. risk ratio vs. odds ratio
4. Smoking is number 1 cause for....
Ethics
1. NEVER refer or send to ethics committee, use patient-centered questions, respect patient
autonomy, never lie
Pharm
1. Km or Bioavailability or competitive/noncompetitive drug or maintenance dose or loading
dose or volume of distribution or Phase 1 to 4 or p450, Anesthetic principles: blood solubility =
induction & recovery; lipid solubility = potency = 1/MAC
2. atropine or stimigmine or muscarinic agonist or anti-muscarinic antagonist
Cardio
1. Brachial arch or pouch question/digeorge
2. lipid lowering drug
3. Shock
4. thermoregulation peripheral vasoconstriction in prolonged cold
5. HOCM S4 AS or Dilated S3 AR MR
6. polyarteritis nodosa or temporal arteritis or Kawasaki or Reye; all the vasculitis
7. post-ventricular MI complications
Endo
1. MEN 1/2
2. hyperthyroid or hypothyroid
3. myoma or rhabdomyoma
4. PTH vs Ca levels
5. endocrine drug metformin, sulfonylurea
6. Addisons or DI or adrenal cortical/medullary
7. signaling pathway of hormones, p53, HOX gene, motif, tumor suppressor genes,
oncogenes
8. Islet cell tumors: insulinoma vs. gastrinoma vs. VIPoma, etc.
9. Type 1 vs. Type 2 diabeetus; DKA vs. HHM
GI
1. solid or liquid dysphagia
2. hernia or hemorrhoid
3. Causes and treatment of ulcers--gastric, peptic, etc.
4. Meckel diverticulum or appendicitis or ovarian tumor or Hirschsprung
5. esophageal varices or Mallory Weiss or Boerhave
6. vesicular steatosis or nodular cirrhosis or Hep A, B, C, D, E, Hep B markers
7. Crohn or UC or Th1 or Th2
8. Causes of upper quadrant pain
Heme/Onc
1. Coagulation cascade and associated defects
2. Causes of microcytic vs. macrocytic vs. normocytic anemia
3. Heme synthesis
4. CML or polycythemia vera or myelo
5. Blood smear - parvovirus B19 or Howell Jolly or Heinz or AML
6. Warfarin or heparin or von Willebrand or HUS or TTP
7. Blood group ABO classification or Thalassemia or Sickle cell
8. Multiple myeloma
9. cancer drugs and which categories for each / chemo man side effects
10. grade or TNM stage or brain to lung metastasis or colon to liver metastasis or prostate to
bone metastasis, pancreatic adenocarcinoma osteoBlastic (unlike other cancers)
MSK
1. succinylcholine or dantrolene
2. Neuromuscular junction
3. bullous pemphigus or pemphigus vulgaris
4. basal cell or melanoma or squamous/acanthosis
5. neuroleptic malignant vs serotonin vs malignant hyperthermia
6. muscle conduction Ca2+ or troponin or tropomyosin
7. SLE antibody or CREST antibody or scleroderma or Sjogren
8. RA or osteoarthritis or PAIR or dermatomyositis/polymyositis
9. Causes of osteolytic vs. osteoblastic lesions
Neuro
1. optic nerve lesion or hemianopsia
2. hematoma epidural/subdural/subarachnoid
3. brain anatomy picture or dorsal column/spinothalamic tract/corticospinal
a. Know brain structures that correspond to pathology (be able to find substantia
nigra and subthalamic nucleus)
4. Sturge Weber or neurofibromatosis or Wilms or tuberous sclerosis
5. Horners (constricted pupil) or uncal herniation (blown pupil)
6. multiple sclerosis
7. Brain Tumors: Adults vs. Children
8. Stroke regions and post-stroke timeline
9. cranial nerve or corneal or pupillary reflex
Psychiatry
1. Time frame for conditions: schizophrenia, depression, bipolar 1+2, GAD, etc.
2. Drugs of abuse: overdose and withdrawal
Renal
1. diuretic places of action and side effects
2. nephritic or nephrotic or white casts or interstitial or kidney stones
3. Acute tubular necrosis vs. acute interstitial nephritis
Repro
1. PCOS or menopause
2. Disorders of sexual development: Kallman vs. Turner vs. Aromatase deficiency vs.
Mullerian agenesis vs. AIS vs. 5a reductase deficiency
3. developmental stage - roll, stand, walk, run, stairs
4. Endometriosis, Leiomyoma, Adenomyosis, Asherman
5. Causes of lower quadrant pain
Respiratory
1. A-a gradient
2. acidosis/alkalosis
3. hyperresonant or tactile fremitus
4. small cell lung carcinoma or carcinoid or serotonin syndrome
5. hydrostatic or colloid pressure
6. sarcoidosis, Vitamin D, 25-something, 1,25-something, 24,25-something
7. CO2 transport
8. Type 2 pneumocytes
Misc
1. random embryology from the heart or reproductive or a pudendal nerve
Anatomy: 100 Most Important General Anatomy Concepts
Top 100 High Yield Topics
Number of times each topic has been tested on the OITE exam in the last 8 years.
Topic Specialty Questions
Ethical Principles Stats 38
Legal Principles Stats 38
Modes of Inheritance Biochemistry 23
Lysosome Biochemistry 21
Testing and Screening Stats 19
Chromosomal Diseases Biochemistry 19
Poisons and Treatments Pharmacology 19
Observational Studies Stats 18
Opportunistic Mycoses Microbiology 17
Valvular Disease Cardiovascular 17
Antiarrhythmics Cardiovascular 17
Ego Defenses Psychiatry 17
Diabetes Drugs Endocrine 16
Hypersensitivity Immunology 16
Bias Stats 16
Statistical Distribution Stats 16
Signs and Symptoms of Drug Abuse (by Drug) Psychiatry 16
Nephritic Syndrome Renal 16
Nephrotic Syndrome Renal 16
Asthma Respiratory 15
Amino Acid Catabolism Biochemistry 15
Ischemic Stroke Neurology 15
Myocardial Infarction Cardiovascular 15
Lipid Lowering Drugs Cardiovascular 14
Cranial Nerves Neurology 14
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Microbiology 14
Water Soluble Vitamins Biochemistry 14
Statistical Measures Stats 13
Congestive Heart Failure Cardiovascular 13
Heart Murmurs Cardiovascular 13
Sympathomimetics Pharmacology 13
Lung Cancer Oncology 13
Topic Specialty Questions
Asthma Drugs Respiratory 12
Personality Disorders Psychiatry 12
Emphysema Respiratory 12
Cystic Fibrosis Respiratory 12
Sickle Cell Anemia Hematology 12
Rheumatoid Arthritis MSK 12
Primary Brain Tumors Oncology 12
Diabetes Mellitus Endocrine 12
Fat Soluble Vitamins Biochemistry 12
HIV Microbiology 12
Germ Layer Derivatives Embryology 11
Anticoagulants Hematology 11
Drug Reactions and Side Effects Pharmacology 11
Cardiomyopathies Cardiovascular 11
Antianginal Therapy Cardiovascular 11
Sarcoidosis Respiratory 11
Other Eating Disorders Psychiatry 11
Urinary Tract Infection Renal 11
Turner Syndrome Reproductive 10
ACE Inhibitors Renal 10
Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome Respiratory 10
Antipsychotics Psychiatry 10
Acid-Base Differential Diagnosis Renal 10
Antihypertensive Therapy Cardiovascular 10
Coronary Artery Anatomy Cardiovascular 10
Transplant Immunology 10
Graves Disease Endocrine 10
Branchial Apparatus Embryology 10
DNA Repair Biochemistry 10
Genetic Principles Biochemistry 10
Glycogen Biochemistry 9
GI Embryology Embryology 9
Kidney Embryology Embryology 9
Hepatitis B Virus Microbiology 9
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococci) Microbiology 9
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) Endocrine 9
Topic Specialty Questions
Atrioventricular (AV) Heart Block Cardiovascular 9
Atherosclerosis Cardiovascular 9
Nephrolithiasis Renal 9
Chronic Bronchitis Respiratory 9
GI Infections: Protozoa Microbiology 9
Other Restrictive Etiologies Respiratory 8
Pulmonary Hypertension Respiratory 8
Pneumoconioses Respiratory 8
Loop Diuretics Renal 8
Antibodies Immunology 8
Cardiac Output and Variables Cardiovascular 8
Adrenogenital Syndrome (Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia) Endocrine 8
Insulin and Glucagon Endocrine 8
Celiac Disease Gastrointestinal 8
Meckel Diverticulum Gastrointestinal 8
Wilson Disease Gastrointestinal 8
Schizophrenia Psychiatry 8
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders Psychiatry 8
Aphasia Neurology 8
Opiates Neurology 8
Streptococcus pneumoniae Microbiology 8
Genital Embryology Embryology 8
Clostridioides difficile Microbiology 8
Bruton Agammaglobulinemia Immunology 8
Neisseria meningitidis Microbiology 8
Cell-Mediated Immunity Immunology 8
Microtubules Biochemistry 8
Collagen Biochemistry 8
Protein Synthesis Biochemistry 7
Glycolysis Biochemistry 7
RNA Processing Biochemistry 7
Clostridium tetani Microbiology 7