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

New temporal headache, jaw claudication and visual symptoms in an older adult require immediate treatment with what?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. High-dose glucocorticoids

Suspected giant cell arteritis threatens irreversible visual loss, so glucocorticoids are started immediately; biopsy or imaging should not delay treatment.

Option by option

  • A. Allopurinol

    Allopurinol treats hyperuricaemia.

  • B. High-dose glucocorticoids (correct)

    Correct. Steroids protect vision urgently.

  • C. Antibiotics

    This is inflammatory vasculitis, not infection.

  • D. Methotrexate only after biopsy

    Diagnostic confirmation should not postpone urgent steroid therapy.

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, High-dose glucocorticoids. Suspected giant cell arteritis threatens irreversible visual loss, so glucocorticoids are started immediately; biopsy or imaging should not delay treatment.

Why is "Allopurinol" not the answer?

Allopurinol treats hyperuricaemia.

Why is "Antibiotics" not the answer?

This is inflammatory vasculitis, not infection.

Why is "Methotrexate only after biopsy" not the answer?

Diagnostic confirmation should not postpone urgent steroid therapy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Rheumatology: giant cell arteritis in General Medicine. The correct option holds because: Correct. Steroids protect vision urgently.

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: 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.