Cardiology: Dressler syndrome: practice question

A General Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Medicine · Cardiology: Dressler syndrome

Sample item

Three weeks after an anterior MI a patient has fever, pleuritic chest pain and a friction rub. ECG shows diffuse ST elevation. What is the treatment of choice?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Aspirin or NSAID, with colchicine as an adjunct

Dressler syndrome is an autoimmune pericarditis occurring weeks after MI. It is treated with aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs plus colchicine. Anticoagulants are avoided because of the risk of haemorrhagic effusion.

Option by option

  • A. Aspirin or NSAID, with colchicine as an adjunct (correct)

    Correct. Anti-inflammatory therapy with colchicine is standard.

  • B. Immediate pericardiocentesis

    Pericardiocentesis is reserved for tamponade.

  • C. Repeat thrombolysis

    Reperfusion is not needed because this is not a new occlusion.

  • D. Anticoagulation with heparin

    Anticoagulation risks haemopericardium.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More General Medicine questions

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Aspirin or NSAID, with colchicine as an adjunct. Dressler syndrome is an autoimmune pericarditis occurring weeks after MI.

Why is "Immediate pericardiocentesis" not the answer?

Pericardiocentesis is reserved for tamponade.

Why is "Repeat thrombolysis" not the answer?

Reperfusion is not needed because this is not a new occlusion.

Why is "Anticoagulation with heparin" not the answer?

Anticoagulation risks haemopericardium.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cardiology: Dressler syndrome in General Medicine. It is treated with aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs plus colchicine. Anticoagulants are avoided because of the risk of haemorrhagic effusion.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Cardiology: Dressler syndrome?

For each disease know the classic presentation, the best test, and the first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other General Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.