Chemotherapy: anakinra in autoinflammatory disease: practice question

A Pharmacology 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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Pharmacology · Chemotherapy: anakinra in autoinflammatory disease

Sample item

A child has recurrent fever, urticaria-like rash and arthralgia triggered by cold exposure from infancy, caused by gain-of-function mutation of NLRP3. Which drug gives the most dramatic response?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Anakinra

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes are driven by excess interleukin-1 beta. Anakinra, a recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist, abolishes the symptoms rapidly, and canakinumab and rilonacept act similarly. Injection site reactions and infections are its main adverse effects.

Option by option

  • A. Anakinra (correct)

    Correct. Blocking the IL-1 receptor controls the NLRP3-driven inflammation.

  • B. Colchicine

    Colchicine is used in familial Mediterranean fever and gout, and does not control this syndrome.

  • C. Rituximab

    Rituximab depletes B cells and has no role here.

  • D. Etanercept

    Etanercept blocks TNF and is much less effective in cryopyrin-associated syndromes.

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 Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is A, Anakinra. Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes are driven by excess interleukin-1 beta.

Why is "Colchicine" not the answer?

Colchicine is used in familial Mediterranean fever and gout, and does not control this syndrome.

Why is "Rituximab" not the answer?

Rituximab depletes B cells and has no role here.

Why is "Etanercept" not the answer?

Etanercept blocks TNF and is much less effective in cryopyrin-associated syndromes.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Chemotherapy: anakinra in autoinflammatory disease in Pharmacology. Anakinra, a recombinant IL-1 receptor antagonist, abolishes the symptoms rapidly, and canakinumab and rilonacept act similarly. Injection site reactions and infections are its main adverse effects.

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 Chemotherapy: anakinra in autoinflammatory disease?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology 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.