Therapeutics: pre-biologic screening: 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 · Therapeutics: pre-biologic screening

Sample item

A man with severe plaque psoriasis is to start adalimumab. Which pre-treatment evaluation is most important?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Screening for latent tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C and HIV

TNF inhibitors increase the risk of reactivation of latent tuberculosis and hepatitis B. Before starting, patients are screened with IGRA or tuberculin test with chest radiograph, and hepatitis B, C and HIV serology. Positive latent TB requires preventive therapy before or alongside the biologic.

Option by option

  • A. Serum vitamin D only

    Vitamin D is not relevant.

  • B. Screening for latent tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C and HIV (correct)

    Correct. TB and viral hepatitis screening is essential before anti-TNF therapy.

  • C. Skin patch testing only

    Patch testing does not assess infection risk.

  • D. No investigations are needed

    Screening is required to prevent reactivation of infections.

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 Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is B, Screening for latent tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C and HIV. TNF inhibitors increase the risk of reactivation of latent tuberculosis and hepatitis B.

Why is "Serum vitamin D only" not the answer?

Vitamin D is not relevant.

Why is "Skin patch testing only" not the answer?

Patch testing does not assess infection risk.

Why is "No investigations are needed" not the answer?

Screening is required to prevent reactivation of infections.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Therapeutics: pre-biologic screening in Dermatology. Before starting, patients are screened with IGRA or tuberculin test with chest radiograph, and hepatitis B, C and HIV serology. Positive latent TB requires preventive therapy before or alongside the biologic.

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 Therapeutics: pre-biologic screening?

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.