Free rheumatology MCQ exam model for clinical students

Explanation:

• Sacroiliac joint → Correct because inflammation starts here causing inflammatory back pain.

• Knee joint → Incorrect because it is a peripheral joint.

• Hip joint → Incorrect because it is affected later.

• Shoulder joint → Incorrect because it is not primary.

• Wrist joint → Incorrect because it is less commonly involved.

Explanation:

• Rheumatoid arthritis → Correct because it is the most common chronic inflammatory arthritis.

• Osteoarthritis → Incorrect because it is degenerative, not inflammatory.

• Psoriatic arthritis → Incorrect because it is less common.

• Gout → Incorrect because it is episodic crystal-induced arthritis.

• Ankylosing spondylitis → Incorrect because it mainly affects axial skeleton.

Explanation:

• Anti–CCP antibody → Correct because it has high specificity for rheumatoid arthritis.

• Antinuclear antibody → Incorrect because it is non-specific.

• Rheumatoid factor → Incorrect because it lacks specificity.

• Anti-dsDNA antibody → Incorrect because it is seen in SLE.

• Anti-centromere antibody → Incorrect because it is seen in limited scleroderma.

Explanation:

• Muscles, joints, and connective tissues → Correct because rheumatology focuses on inflammatory and autoimmune musculoskeletal diseases.

• Heart and blood vessels → Incorrect because this is cardiology.

• Nervous system → Incorrect because this is neurology.

• Endocrine glands → Incorrect because this is endocrinology.

• Respiratory system → Incorrect because this is pulmonology.

Explanation:

• Synovial inflammation → Correct because pannus formation leads to joint destruction.

• Cartilage degeneration → Incorrect because it characterizes osteoarthritis.

• Urate crystal deposition → Incorrect because it causes gout.

• Bone necrosis → Incorrect because it occurs in avascular necrosis.

• Ligament rupture → Incorrect because it is traumatic.

Explanation:

• Colchicine → Correct because it suppresses neutrophil-mediated inflammation in acute gout.

• Allopurinol → Incorrect because it is used for chronic urate lowering.

• Febuxostat → Incorrect because it is not used in acute attacks.

• Methotrexate → Incorrect because it is used in rheumatoid arthritis.

• Sulfasalazine → Incorrect because it is a DMARD, not for gout.

Explanation:

• Systemic autoimmune disease → Correct because SLE affects multiple organs via autoantibodies.

• Degenerative disease → Incorrect because it is inflammatory.

• Localized joint disease → Incorrect because it is systemic.

• Infectious disease → Incorrect because it is not caused by pathogens.

• Metabolic disorder → Incorrect because metabolism is not primary pathology.

Explanation:

• First metatarsophalangeal joint → Correct because podagra is the classic presentation.

• Knee → Incorrect because it may be involved later.

• Ankle → Incorrect because it is less common than MTP joint.

• Hip → Incorrect because it is rarely involved.

• Wrist → Incorrect because it is uncommon initially.

Explanation:

• Monosodium urate → Correct because urate crystal deposition causes gout.

• Calcium oxalate → Incorrect because it causes renal stones.

• Calcium pyrophosphate → Incorrect because it causes pseudogout.

• Cholesterol → Incorrect because it forms gallstones.

• Hydroxyapatite → Incorrect because it causes calcific tendinitis.

Explanation:

• Proximal interphalangeal joint → Correct because RA typically involves PIP and MCP joints symmetrically.

• Distal interphalangeal joint → Incorrect because it is spared in RA.

• First carpometacarpal joint → Incorrect because it is involved in osteoarthritis.

• Hip joint → Incorrect because it is affected later.

• Knee joint → Incorrect because small joints are involved first.