Vascular disorders: erythromelalgia: 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 · Vascular disorders: erythromelalgia

Sample item

A 50-year-old with essential thrombocythaemia has episodic burning pain, redness and warmth of both feet that are relieved by cooling and worsened by heat. Which drug dramatically relieves the symptoms in secondary cases?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Aspirin

Erythromelalgia is episodic burning erythema and warmth of the extremities, triggered by heat and relieved by cooling. In myeloproliferative disease, such as essential thrombocythaemia with JAK2 mutation, platelet-mediated microvascular thrombosis responds dramatically to low-dose aspirin. Patients must avoid heat, and ice immersion can cause tissue damage.

Option by option

  • A. Oral prednisolone

    Steroids are not first-line.

  • B. Oral antibiotics

    Antibiotics have no role.

  • C. Aspirin (correct)

    Correct. Aspirin relieves erythromelalgia in myeloproliferative disease.

  • D. Warm soaks

    Warm soaks worsen the symptoms.

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 C, Aspirin. Erythromelalgia is episodic burning erythema and warmth of the extremities, triggered by heat and relieved by cooling.

Why is "Oral prednisolone" not the answer?

Steroids are not first-line.

Why is "Oral antibiotics" not the answer?

Antibiotics have no role.

Why is "Warm soaks" not the answer?

Warm soaks worsen the symptoms.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vascular disorders: erythromelalgia in Dermatology. In myeloproliferative disease, such as essential thrombocythaemia with JAK2 mutation, platelet-mediated microvascular thrombosis responds dramatically to low-dose aspirin. Patients must avoid heat, and ice immersion can cause tissue damage.

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 Vascular disorders: erythromelalgia?

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.