Papulosquamous disorders: erythroderma complication: practice question

A Dermatology 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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Dermatology · Papulosquamous disorders: erythroderma complication

Sample item

A 58-year-old man with erythroderma from long-standing psoriasis becomes tachycardic and breathless, has pitting leg oedema and a body temperature of 35.2 degrees Celsius. What is the underlying mechanism of the cardiac problem?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Increased cutaneous blood flow causing high-output cardiac failure

Widespread vasodilatation in erythroderma increases cutaneous blood flow and cardiac output. Heat loss causes hypothermia, and the extra load can precipitate high-output cardiac failure in the elderly.

Option by option

  • A. Left ventricular outflow obstruction

    Outflow obstruction is a structural cardiac problem unrelated to erythroderma.

  • B. Direct viral myocarditis

    Viral myocarditis is not part of erythroderma.

  • C. Primary pulmonary embolism

    A primary pulmonary embolism would not account for the hypothermia and widespread skin vasodilatation.

  • D. Increased cutaneous blood flow causing high-output cardiac failure (correct)

    Correct. Vasodilatation raises cardiac output and can cause high-output failure.

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 Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is D, Increased cutaneous blood flow causing high-output cardiac failure. Widespread vasodilatation in erythroderma increases cutaneous blood flow and cardiac output.

Why is "Left ventricular outflow obstruction" not the answer?

Outflow obstruction is a structural cardiac problem unrelated to erythroderma.

Why is "Direct viral myocarditis" not the answer?

Viral myocarditis is not part of erythroderma.

Why is "Primary pulmonary embolism" not the answer?

A primary pulmonary embolism would not account for the hypothermia and widespread skin vasodilatation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Papulosquamous disorders: erythroderma complication in Dermatology. Heat loss causes hypothermia, and the extra load can precipitate high-output cardiac failure in the elderly.

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 Papulosquamous disorders: erythroderma complication?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology 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.