Neurology: Miller Fisher 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.

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General Medicine · Neurology: Miller Fisher syndrome

Sample item

A 35-year-old man has ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and areflexia one week after an episode of diarrhoea. Which antibody is typically present?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Anti-GQ1b

Miller Fisher syndrome is a variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome after infections such as Campylobacter, with the triad of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and areflexia. Anti-GQ1b antibodies are found in most cases.

Option by option

  • A. Anti-voltage-gated calcium channel

    Anti-calcium channel antibodies cause Lambert-Eaton syndrome.

  • B. Anti-GQ1b (correct)

    Correct. Anti-GQ1b antibodies mark this variant.

  • C. Anti-MuSK

    Anti-MuSK antibodies occur in a subset of myasthenia gravis.

  • D. Anti-acetylcholine receptor

    Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies cause myasthenia gravis, which has preserved reflexes.

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, Anti-GQ1b. Miller Fisher syndrome is a variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome after infections such as Campylobacter, with the triad of ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and areflexia.

Why is "Anti-voltage-gated calcium channel" not the answer?

Anti-calcium channel antibodies cause Lambert-Eaton syndrome.

Why is "Anti-MuSK" not the answer?

Anti-MuSK antibodies occur in a subset of myasthenia gravis.

Why is "Anti-acetylcholine receptor" not the answer?

Anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies cause myasthenia gravis, which has preserved reflexes.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neurology: Miller Fisher syndrome in General Medicine. Anti-GQ1b antibodies are found in most 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 Neurology: Miller Fisher 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.