Joint disorders: reactive arthritis: practice question

A Orthopaedics 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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Orthopaedics · Joint disorders: reactive arthritis

Sample item

A 24-year-old man has an asymmetric painful swelling of the knee and ankle 3 weeks after an episode of urethritis, with conjunctivitis and a painless circinate balanitis. Which HLA type is associated?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. HLA-B27

Reactive arthritis is a sterile asymmetric oligoarthritis, mainly of the lower limb, that follows genitourinary or gastrointestinal infection, with HLA-B27 in most patients. Associated features include urethritis, conjunctivitis, enthesitis and keratoderma blennorrhagicum. Management is with NSAIDs and treatment of any ongoing infection.

Option by option

  • A. HLA-DR3

    HLA-DR3 is associated with autoimmune conditions such as SLE and type 1 diabetes.

  • B. HLA-B51

    HLA-B51 is associated with Behcet disease.

  • C. HLA-DR4

    HLA-DR4 is associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

  • D. HLA-B27 (correct)

    Correct. Reactive arthritis is strongly associated with HLA-B27.

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.

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Questions about this Orthopaedics question

What is the answer to this Orthopaedics question?

The best answer is D, HLA-B27. Reactive arthritis is a sterile asymmetric oligoarthritis, mainly of the lower limb, that follows genitourinary or gastrointestinal infection, with HLA-B27 in most patients.

Why is "HLA-DR3" not the answer?

HLA-DR3 is associated with autoimmune conditions such as SLE and type 1 diabetes.

Why is "HLA-B51" not the answer?

HLA-B51 is associated with Behcet disease.

Why is "HLA-DR4" not the answer?

HLA-DR4 is associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Joint disorders: reactive arthritis in Orthopaedics. Associated features include urethritis, conjunctivitis, enthesitis and keratoderma blennorrhagicum. Management is with NSAIDs and treatment of any ongoing infection.

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 Joint disorders: reactive arthritis?

Pair each fracture with its classic complication and nerve injured. Then use the flashcards and the other Orthopaedics 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.