NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam 2026 - Free NAPLEX Practice Questions and Study Guide

In distributive shock, there is a decrease in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) due to vasodilation, which results in low SVR. Initially, there may be compensatory mechanisms in place leading to an increase in cardiac output (CO); however, as distributive shock progresses, there can be a subsequent decrease in CO or a return to normal CO. Therefore, the correct characteristic of distributive shock is "Low SVR, initially high CO followed by low or normal CO."

The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the characteristic of distributive shock. High SVR and low CO (Option A) are more indicative of cardiogenic shock. High CO and normal SVR (Option C) are not characteristic of distributive shock. Low CO and normal SVR (Option D) do not represent the typical hemodynamic profile seen in distributive shock.