Respiratory medicine: Lofgren syndrome: 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.

Try it

General Medicine · Respiratory medicine: Lofgren syndrome

Sample item

A 30-year-old woman has fever, tender red nodules on the shins, ankle arthritis and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy with clear lung fields. What is the expected course of her illness?

ANeed for lifelong corticosteroidsBEarly cavitation of lung lesionsCInevitable progression to pulmonary fibrosisDSpontaneous remission in most patients

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Spontaneous remission in most patients

Erythema nodosum, ankle arthritis and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy form Lofgren syndrome, an acute form of sarcoidosis with an excellent prognosis. Most patients remit spontaneously, and NSAIDs relieve symptoms, with steroids reserved for severe cases.

Option by option

A. Need for lifelong corticosteroids
Most do not need steroids, and NSAIDs treat the joint symptoms.
B. Early cavitation of lung lesions
Cavitation is not a feature of this presentation.
C. Inevitable progression to pulmonary fibrosis
Fibrosis occurs in a minority with chronic sarcoidosis, not in this acute form.
D. Spontaneous remission in most patients (correct)
Correct. Lofgren syndrome usually resolves on its own within a year or two.

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.

Questions about this General Medicine question

What is the answer to this General Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Spontaneous remission in most patients. Erythema nodosum, ankle arthritis and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy form Lofgren syndrome, an acute form of sarcoidosis with an excellent prognosis.

Why is "Need for lifelong corticosteroids" not the answer?

Most do not need steroids, and NSAIDs treat the joint symptoms.

Why is "Early cavitation of lung lesions" not the answer?

Cavitation is not a feature of this presentation.

Why is "Inevitable progression to pulmonary fibrosis" not the answer?

Fibrosis occurs in a minority with chronic sarcoidosis, not in this acute form.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Respiratory medicine: Lofgren syndrome in General Medicine. Most patients remit spontaneously, and NSAIDs relieve symptoms, with steroids reserved for severe cases.

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 Respiratory medicine: Lofgren syndrome?

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.