Calcinosis Prevention SSc — SCE Rheumatology MCQ

Correct answer: C — No reliably effective preventive treatment exists; effective disease control may slow new deposit formation but established calcinosis has no proven pharmacological treatment

The best answer is “No reliably effective preventive treatment exists; effective disease control may slow new deposit formation but established calcinosis has no proven pharmacological treatment”. No reliably effective preventive treatment exists; effective disease control may slow new deposit formation but established calcinosis has no proven pharmacological treatment is supported by the cited UK or directly applicable specialist authority and best matches the tested threshold, complication or monitoring principle. The remaining choices—“Calcium restriction prevents it, after safety review, after specialist assessment, with clinical reassessment, within a rheumatology pathway, after safety review”, “Colchicine prevents all calcinosis, after specialist assessment, with clinical reassessment, within a rheumatology pathway, after safety review, after specialist assessment”, “Bisphosphonates prevent it, with clinical reassessment, with clinical reassessment, within a rheumatology pathway, after safety review, after specialist assessment, with clinical reassessment”, “Strong evidence for prevention, within a rheumatology pathway, after safety review, after specialist assessment, with clinical reassessment, within a rheumatology pathway”—are credible in related rheumatology presentations, but each addresses a different diagnosis, investigation, treatment sequence or complication and does not fit the decisive findings in this stem.

Reference: BSR 2024 systemic sclerosis guideline: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11534099/