Cardiology: acute viral myocarditis: 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 · Cardiology: acute viral myocarditis

Sample item

A 22-year-old man has chest pain and dyspnoea a week after a flu-like illness. The ECG shows diffuse ST elevation, troponin is raised and coronary angiography is normal. Which agent is the most common cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Coxsackievirus B

Viral infection, especially with enteroviruses such as coxsackievirus B, is the commonest cause of myocarditis in developed and developing regions alike. The presentation can mimic myocardial infarction with normal coronaries, and cardiac MRI shows patchy late gadolinium enhancement. Treatment is supportive with standard heart failure therapy.

Option by option

  • A. Trypanosoma cruzi

    T. cruzi causes Chagas myocarditis, which is confined to endemic regions of the Americas.

  • B. Corynebacterium diphtheriae

    Diphtheria toxin can cause myocarditis but is much less common.

  • C. Coxsackievirus B (correct)

    Correct. Enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie B, are the leading cause.

  • D. Systemic lupus erythematosus

    Lupus can cause myocarditis but is not the usual cause in a young man after a flu-like illness.

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 C, Coxsackievirus B. Viral infection, especially with enteroviruses such as coxsackievirus B, is the commonest cause of myocarditis in developed and developing regions alike.

Why is "Trypanosoma cruzi" not the answer?

T. cruzi causes Chagas myocarditis, which is confined to endemic regions of the Americas.

Why is "Corynebacterium diphtheriae" not the answer?

Diphtheria toxin can cause myocarditis but is much less common.

Why is "Systemic lupus erythematosus" not the answer?

Lupus can cause myocarditis but is not the usual cause in a young man after a flu-like illness.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cardiology: acute viral myocarditis in General Medicine. The presentation can mimic myocardial infarction with normal coronaries, and cardiac MRI shows patchy late gadolinium enhancement. Treatment is supportive with standard heart failure therapy.

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 Cardiology: acute viral myocarditis?

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.