Systemic pathology: cardiac biomarkers: practice question

A Pathology 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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Pathology · Systemic pathology: cardiac biomarkers

Sample item

A 58-year-old man had an inferior myocardial infarction six days ago and develops fresh severe chest pain with new ST elevation. Troponin is still raised from the first event. Which marker would best support a second infarct?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. A new rise in CK-MB

Troponins stay raised for 7 to 14 days after infarction, so they cannot show a recurrent event early. CK-MB returns to baseline within about 48 to 72 hours, so a fresh rise indicates reinfarction. LDH and AST remain elevated for days and are non-specific.

Option by option

  • A. Raised aspartate transaminase

    AST rises in liver and muscle injury as well, and is not used for reinfarction.

  • B. A new rise in CK-MB (correct)

    Correct. CK-MB normalises within about 3 days, so a new rise signals reinfarction.

  • C. A new rise in troponin I alone

    Troponin I remains elevated for many days after the first infarct and cannot distinguish a new event.

  • D. Raised lactate dehydrogenase

    LDH stays raised for around 10 days and is non-specific.

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 Pathology questions

Questions about this Pathology question

What is the answer to this Pathology question?

The best answer is B, A new rise in CK-MB. Troponins stay raised for 7 to 14 days after infarction, so they cannot show a recurrent event early.

Why is "Raised aspartate transaminase" not the answer?

AST rises in liver and muscle injury as well, and is not used for reinfarction.

Why is "A new rise in troponin I alone" not the answer?

Troponin I remains elevated for many days after the first infarct and cannot distinguish a new event.

Why is "Raised lactate dehydrogenase" not the answer?

LDH stays raised for around 10 days and is non-specific.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Systemic pathology: cardiac biomarkers in Pathology. CK-MB returns to baseline within about 48 to 72 hours, so a fresh rise indicates reinfarction. LDH and AST remain elevated for days and are non-specific.

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 Systemic pathology: cardiac biomarkers?

Learn each disease as a bundle: cause, key histology, markers, and the clinical hallmark. Then use the flashcards and the other Pathology 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.