Rheumatology: giant cell arteritis: 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: giant cell arteritis

Sample item

A 74-year-old has a new temporal headache, scalp tenderness, jaw claudication, and transient visual blurring. What is the most important immediate treatment?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Start high-dose glucocorticoids urgently

Giant cell arteritis can cause irreversible visual loss, so glucocorticoids should be started promptly when clinical suspicion is high. Diagnostic testing, including temporal artery assessment, should not delay vision-saving treatment.

Option by option

  • A. Start allopurinol

    Allopurinol treats hyperuricemia and gout.

  • B. Start high-dose glucocorticoids urgently (correct)

    Correct. Immediate corticosteroid treatment reduces risk of permanent blindness.

  • C. Prescribe a triptan only

    Triptans treat migraine, not vasculitic ischemia.

  • D. Wait for temporal artery biopsy before treatment

    Biopsy is important diagnostically but treatment should not be delayed for it.

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 B, Start high-dose glucocorticoids urgently. Giant cell arteritis can cause irreversible visual loss, so glucocorticoids should be started promptly when clinical suspicion is high.

Why is "Start allopurinol" not the answer?

Allopurinol treats hyperuricemia and gout.

Why is "Prescribe a triptan only" not the answer?

Triptans treat migraine, not vasculitic ischemia.

Why is "Wait for temporal artery biopsy before treatment" not the answer?

Biopsy is important diagnostically but treatment should not be delayed for it.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Rheumatology: giant cell arteritis in General Medicine. Diagnostic testing, including temporal artery assessment, should not delay vision-saving treatment.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: giant cell arteritis?

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.