Neurology: temporal 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 · Neurology: temporal arteritis

Sample item

An older patient has new temporal headache, jaw claudication, raised ESR, and transient visual loss. What should be done immediately?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Start high-dose glucocorticoids while arranging diagnostic confirmation

Giant cell arteritis threatens irreversible blindness, so glucocorticoids should start immediately when clinical suspicion is high. Temporal artery testing should not delay vision-saving treatment.

Option by option

  • A. Start dopamine replacement

    Dopamine is used in Parkinson disease.

  • B. Prescribe only simple analgesia

    Analgesia alone does not treat vasculitic ischemia.

  • C. Wait for biopsy result before treatment

    Waiting for biopsy can allow preventable blindness.

  • D. Start high-dose glucocorticoids while arranging diagnostic confirmation (correct)

    Correct. Immediate steroids reduce risk of permanent visual loss.

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 General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Start high-dose glucocorticoids while arranging diagnostic confirmation. Giant cell arteritis threatens irreversible blindness, so glucocorticoids should start immediately when clinical suspicion is high.

Why is "Start dopamine replacement" not the answer?

Dopamine is used in Parkinson disease.

Why is "Prescribe only simple analgesia" not the answer?

Analgesia alone does not treat vasculitic ischemia.

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

Waiting for biopsy can allow preventable blindness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neurology: temporal arteritis in General Medicine. Temporal artery testing 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 Neurology: temporal 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.