Rheumatology: 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 · Rheumatology

Sample item

Which joint pattern is most typical of rheumatoid arthritis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Symmetric small-joint inflammatory synovitis

Rheumatoid arthritis commonly causes persistent, symmetric inflammatory synovitis of hands and feet with prolonged morning stiffness, and early disease-modifying treatment helps prevent erosive damage.

Option by option

  • A. Symmetric small-joint inflammatory synovitis (correct)

    Correct: symmetric small-joint synovitis is characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis.

  • B. Pain confined to a single distal phalanx after trauma

    Single injured distal phalanx pain is a local trauma pattern.

  • C. Isolated first metatarsophalangeal attacks only

    First MTP attacks are classic for gout rather than rheumatoid arthritis.

  • D. Mechanical pain after repetitive loading only

    Purely load-related pain suggests a mechanical disorder such as osteoarthritis.

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, Symmetric small-joint inflammatory synovitis. Rheumatoid arthritis commonly causes persistent, symmetric inflammatory synovitis of hands and feet with prolonged morning stiffness, and early disease-modifying treatment helps prevent erosive damage.

Why is "Pain confined to a single distal phalanx after trauma" not the answer?

Single injured distal phalanx pain is a local trauma pattern.

Why is "Isolated first metatarsophalangeal attacks only" not the answer?

First MTP attacks are classic for gout rather than rheumatoid arthritis.

Why is "Mechanical pain after repetitive loading only" not the answer?

Purely load-related pain suggests a mechanical disorder such as osteoarthritis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Rheumatology in General Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct: symmetric small-joint synovitis is characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis.

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 Rheumatology?

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.