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Mixed connective tissue disease — SCE Rheumatology MCQ

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HardConnective Tissue DiseasesMixed connective tissue diseaseSCE Rheumatology

An asymptomatic patient with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis, disease duration 9 years and DLCO 58% predicted attends annual review. Which surveillance package best reflects BSR guidance for pulmonary arterial hypertension?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: DAnnual PFTs, echocardiography, NT-proBNP and DETECT in eligible patients

Explanation lettering: D = shown as A · C = shown as B · E = shown as C · B = shown as D · A = shown as E

B is correct. BSR recommends annual PAH screening in all systemic-sclerosis patients using PFTs, echocardiography and NT-proBNP, with DETECT in suitable people. HRCT assesses ILD rather than serving as routine PAH surveillance; universal catheterisation is invasive, while symptom-triggered echocardiography misses clinically silent disease.

Reference: 2024 British Society for Rheumatology systemic sclerosis guideline: executive summary. https://academic.oup.com/rheumatology/article/63/11/2948/7750185