Nephrology: 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 · Nephrology

Sample item

Red blood cell casts in the urine most strongly suggest:

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Glomerulonephritis

Red cell casts form when red cells leak through damaged glomeruli and are moulded in the tubule. They indicate glomerular bleeding, as in nephritic syndrome. White cell casts suggest pyelonephritis or interstitial nephritis, fatty casts occur in nephrotic syndrome and hyaline casts can be normal.

Option by option

  • A. Glomerulonephritis (correct)

    Correct. They are the urinary hallmark of glomerular inflammation.

  • B. Acute pyelonephritis

    Pyelonephritis shows white cell casts.

  • C. Nephrotic syndrome

    Nephrotic syndrome shows fatty casts and oval fat bodies.

  • D. Dehydration

    Dehydration may increase hyaline casts only.

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 A, Glomerulonephritis. Red cell casts form when red cells leak through damaged glomeruli and are moulded in the tubule.

Why is "Acute pyelonephritis" not the answer?

Pyelonephritis shows white cell casts.

Why is "Nephrotic syndrome" not the answer?

Nephrotic syndrome shows fatty casts and oval fat bodies.

Why is "Dehydration" not the answer?

Dehydration may increase hyaline casts only.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nephrology in General Medicine. They indicate glomerular bleeding, as in nephritic syndrome. White cell casts suggest pyelonephritis or interstitial nephritis, fatty casts occur in nephrotic syndrome and hyaline casts can be normal.

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 Nephrology?

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.