Medicine

General Medicine is the single most important clinical subject in NEET PG and INI-CET. It is the spine of the clinical sciences: nearly every other subject (Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Radiology) feeds into it, and a large fraction of "non-Medicine" questions are actually Medicine wearing a different coat. If you master Medicine well, your overall percentile lifts disproportionately because the subject rewards integrated, mechanism-level understanding rather than rote facts.

This mother page gives you the strategic map of the subject, a system-by-system high-yield breakdown, the classic associations and cut-off values examiners love, the traps that cost ranks, and a disciplined study + last-week revision plan.

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How Medicine Is Tested in NEET PG / INI-CET

Weightage and scope

• NEET PG: Medicine (including allied subspecialties counted under it) typically contributes the largest share of clinical questions — roughly 18–22% of the paper when you fold in cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, etc. In a 200-question paper, expect 30–45 questions directly attributable to Medicine themes.
• INI-CET (AIIMS/PGI pattern): Medicine is even more heavily weighted and tested at greater depth. Expect mechanism-based, "best-next-step", and image/ECG-based items. INI-CET rewards reading recent guideline updates (KDIGO, GOLD, GINA, ADA, ESC, JNC/ACC-AHA hypertension, Global Initiative documents).
• The subject overlaps heavily with Pharmacology (drug of choice, adverse effects), Pathology (mechanisms, blood picture), and Microbiology (ID agents, antibiotics).

Recurring question styles

1. Single-best-answer clinical vignettes — a short case with labs/imaging asking for diagnosis, next investigation, or treatment.
2. "Drug of choice / first-line" questions — high yield and easy marks if you know guidelines.
3. Image-based items — ECG (STEMI localisation, blocks, hyperkalaemia, WPW, long QT), peripheral smear, fundus, CXR, CT brain, skin lesions.
4. Criteria/diagnostic-score recall — CURB-65, CHA₂DS₂-VASc, Light's criteria, Duke criteria, Ranson, Child-Pugh, MELD, Wells score.
5. Value/cut-off recall — anion gap, transudate vs exudate, HbA1c thresholds, eGFR CKD staging, ABG interpretation.
6. Association/eponym recall — classic disease-sign, antibody-disease, deficiency-syndrome pairings.
7. "Most common cause / most specific test / most sensitive test" triads — examiners distinguish screening (sensitive) vs confirmatory (specific).
8. Statement-based and assertion-reason items (more in INI-CET).

What examiners reward

• Knowing the next best step vs the most accurate test.
• Distinguishing screening from confirmatory, acute from chronic, transudate from exudate.
• Linking mechanism → presentation → drug.

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Cardiology

The highest-yield Medicine system. ECG interpretation alone can fetch several marks.

Must-know high-yield topics

• Acute coronary syndrome (ACS): STEMI vs NSTEMI vs unstable angina; ECG localisation; door-to-balloon time; thrombolysis vs primary PCI. Reciprocal changes confirm STEMI.
• ECG localisation: II, III, aVF = inferior (RCA); V1–V4 = anteroseptal (LAD); I, aVL, V5–V6 = lateral (LCx). Inferior MI + hypotension → suspect RV infarct → give fluids, avoid nitrates.
• Heart failure: HFrEF vs HFpEF; GDMT (guideline-directed medical therapy) quadruple therapy — ARNI/ACEi, beta-blocker, MRA (spironolactone/eplerenone), and SGLT2 inhibitors (a recent high-yield addition).
• Arrhythmias: AF (rate vs rhythm control, anticoagulation by CHA₂DS₂-VASc), VT vs SVT, torsades (give IV magnesium), WPW (delta wave; avoid AV nodal blockers in AF with WPW).
• Valvular disease: murmur characteristics, MS (mid-diastolic rumble, loud S1, opening snap), AS (ejection systolic, radiates to carotids, narrow pulse pressure), MR, AR (water-hammer pulse, wide pulse pressure).
• Infective endocarditis: Modified Duke criteria; commonest organism overall Staph aureus; prosthetic-valve early = Staph epidermidis; in IVDU = right-sided (tricuspid) Staph aureus.
• Cardiomyopathies: HOCM (asymmetric septal hypertrophy, murmur ↑ with Valsalva/standing, sudden death in athletes), dilated, restrictive (amyloid).
• Pericardial disease: acute pericarditis (diffuse ST elevation + PR depression, friction rub), tamponade (Beck's triad, pulsus paradoxus, electrical alternans), constrictive pericarditis (Kussmaul's sign, pericardial knock).

Classic associations

Finding	Association
Pulsus paradoxus	Cardiac tamponade, severe asthma
Electrical alternans	Large pericardial effusion
Water-hammer (Corrigan) pulse	Aortic regurgitation
Pulsus parvus et tardus	Aortic stenosis
Janeway lesions / Osler nodes	Infective endocarditis
Delta wave	WPW syndrome
Wellens sign	Critical LAD stenosis

Traps

• Giving nitrates in RV infarct (causes profound hypotension).
• Using AV nodal blockers (digoxin, verapamil) in WPW with AF — can precipitate VF.
• Forgetting that HOCM murmur increases with reduced preload (Valsalva, standing) unlike AS/MR.

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Respiratory

High yield for ABG, obstructive vs restrictive distinction, and pleural effusion.

Must-know high-yield topics

• Obstructive vs restrictive: Obstructive (asthma, COPD) → FEV1/FVC < 0.7; Restrictive → normal/high ratio, ↓ FVC, ↓ TLC.
• Asthma (GINA): Current GINA recommends ICS-formoterol as reliever (anti-inflammatory reliever) rather than SABA monotherapy — a key recent shift. Step-up therapy.
• COPD (GOLD): spirometry confirms; GOLD ABE grouping; long-term oxygen therapy improves survival if PaO₂ ≤ 55 mmHg (or ≤ 59 with cor pulmonale/polycythaemia).
• Pleural effusion — Light's criteria (exudate if any one): pleural/serum protein > 0.5, pleural/serum LDH > 0.6, pleural LDH > 2/3 upper limit of normal serum LDH.
• Pneumonia: CAP severity by CURB-65; commonest typical organism Strep pneumoniae; atypicals (Mycoplasma, Legionella — hyponatraemia, GI symptoms).
• ILD: UIP/IPF (basal, peripheral honeycombing; antifibrotics pirfenidone/nintedanib), sarcoidosis (bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, non-caseating granuloma, ↑ ACE, hypercalcaemia).
• Pulmonary embolism: Wells score → D-dimer (rule out if low probability) → CTPA (confirm). Massive PE with shock → thrombolysis.
• ARDS (Berlin definition): acute onset, bilateral infiltrates, PaO₂/FiO₂ ≤ 300, not cardiogenic; lung-protective ventilation (low tidal volume 6 mL/kg).
• OSA: polysomnography; AHI; CPAP.

Classic associations

Pattern	Diagnosis
Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy	Sarcoidosis
Honeycombing, basal	IPF / UIP
Eggshell calcification	Silicosis
Hyponatraemia + pneumonia	Legionella
Currant-jelly sputum	Klebsiella

Traps

• Treating a transudate as though it needs pleural biopsy — transudates (CHF, cirrhosis, nephrotic) need treatment of the cause.
• Confusing type 1 (hypoxaemic) vs type 2 (hypercapnic) respiratory failure on ABG.

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Nephrology

Conceptually demanding; rewards electrolyte and acid–base mastery.

Must-know high-yield topics

• AKI: prerenal vs intrinsic vs postrenal; FENa < 1% prerenal, > 2% intrinsic (ATN); muddy-brown casts = ATN.
• CKD staging (KDIGO): by eGFR (G1–G5) and albuminuria (A1–A3). SGLT2 inhibitors now recommended to slow CKD progression — recent high-yield update.
• Glomerulonephritis:
  • Nephrotic (proteinuria > 3.5 g/day, hypoalbuminaemia, oedema): minimal change (children, steroid-responsive), FSGS, membranous (anti-PLA2R), diabetic.
  • Nephritic (haematuria, RBC casts, HTN): PSGN, IgA nephropathy (commonest GN worldwide), RPGN (crescents).
• RPGN types: Type 1 anti-GBM (Goodpasture), Type 2 immune-complex, Type 3 pauci-immune (ANCA-associated).
• Electrolytes: hyperkalaemia ECG (peaked T → widened QRS → sine wave); treatment sequence calcium gluconate (membrane stabilisation) → insulin+glucose/salbutamol (shift) → diuretics/dialysis (remove).
• Acid–base: anion gap = Na − (Cl + HCO₃); HAGMA mnemonic GOLD MARK (Glycols, Oxoproline, L-lactate, D-lactate, Methanol, Aspirin, Renal failure, Ketoacidosis).
• RTA: Type 1 (distal, can't acidify urine, urine pH > 5.5, stones), Type 2 (proximal, bicarbonate wasting), Type 4 (hypoaldosteronism, hyperkalaemia).

Classic associations

Finding	Diagnosis
Anti-PLA2R antibody	Membranous nephropathy
RBC casts	Glomerulonephritis (nephritic)
Muddy-brown granular casts	Acute tubular necrosis
WBC casts	Pyelonephritis / interstitial nephritis
Anti-GBM antibody	Goodpasture syndrome

Traps

• Giving potassium-shifting agents alone in hyperkalaemia and forgetting calcium for cardioprotection.
• Mislabelling diabetic nephropathy order — Kimmelstiel-Wilson nodules; ACEi/ARB are renoprotective.

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Neurology

Localisation and stroke are the workhorses.

Must-know high-yield topics

• Stroke: ischaemic vs haemorrhagic (NCCT first to exclude bleed). Thrombolysis (alteplase/tenecteplase) within 4.5 hours; mechanical thrombectomy window extended to up to 24 hours in selected large-vessel occlusion (recent update).
• Localisation: MCA (face+arm > leg, aphasia if dominant), ACA (leg > arm), PCA (homonymous hemianopia with macular sparing), lacunar (pure motor/sensory).
• Seizures/status epilepticus: first-line benzodiazepine (lorazepam IV) → then levetiracetam/valproate/fosphenytoin.
• Demyelination: MS (relapsing-remitting, oligoclonal bands, periventricular plaques, internuclear ophthalmoplegia).
• Neuromuscular: myasthenia gravis (fatigable weakness, anti-AChR, thymoma, decremental response on repetitive stimulation, ptosis), Lambert-Eaton (improves with use, small-cell lung Ca), GBS (ascending paralysis, albuminocytological dissociation, post-Campylobacter; treat IVIG/plasmapheresis — not steroids).
• Movement disorders: Parkinson (resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia; levodopa), Huntington (chorea, CAG repeats), Wilson (Kayser-Fleischer rings, low ceruloplasmin).
• Headache: migraine vs cluster vs tension; SAH (thunderclap, NCCT then LP for xanthochromia); temporal arteritis (↑ ESR, jaw claudication — start steroids before biopsy).
• Meningitis/encephalitis: CSF patterns; HSV encephalitis (temporal lobe, treat IV acyclovir early).

Classic associations

Sign	Localisation/Disease
Internuclear ophthalmoplegia	Multiple sclerosis (MLF lesion)
Albuminocytological dissociation	Guillain-Barré syndrome
Argyll Robertson pupil	Neurosyphilis
Kayser-Fleischer ring	Wilson disease
Babinski (extensor plantar)	UMN lesion

Traps

• Giving steroids in GBS (no benefit; use IVIG/plasmapheresis).
• Doing LP before NCCT in suspected raised ICP/SAH with focal signs.
• Forgetting macular sparing points to PCA (occipital) lesion.

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GIT & Hepatology

Liver, IBD, pancreatitis, and GI bleed dominate.

Must-know high-yield topics

• Cirrhosis & portal hypertension: complications (variceal bleed, ascites, SBP, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome). Child-Pugh and MELD scores for prognosis/transplant priority.
• SBP: ascitic fluid PMN ≥ 250/mm³; commonest organism E. coli; treat third-gen cephalosporin + albumin.
• Hepatic encephalopathy: ammonia; treat lactulose + rifaximin.
• Ascites — SAAG: ≥ 1.1 g/dL = portal hypertension (transudative); < 1.1 = exudative (TB, malignancy).
• Acute pancreatitis: Ranson/APACHE/BISAP scoring; lipase more specific than amylase; gallstones and alcohol commonest causes.
• IBD: Crohn (skip lesions, transmural, cobblestoning, fistula, terminal ileum) vs UC (continuous, mucosa/submucosa, rectum upward, lead-pipe colon, toxic megacolon, ↑ colorectal Ca risk).
• GI bleed: upper (haematemesis/melena — PUD, varices) vs lower; resuscitate first.
• Malabsorption: celiac (anti-tTG, duodenal villous atrophy, dermatitis herpetiformis), tropical sprue.
• Hepatitis serology: HBsAg (active infection), anti-HBs (immunity), anti-HBc IgM (acute window). HCV → chronicity; DAAs cure.
• Wilson, hemochromatosis (bronze diabetes, ↑ ferritin/transferrin saturation), autoimmune hepatitis (ASMA, anti-LKM).

Key tables

Score	Use
Child-Pugh (A/B/C)	Cirrhosis severity
MELD	Transplant priority
Ranson / BISAP	Pancreatitis prognosis
SAAG ≥ 1.1	Portal hypertensive ascites

Traps

• Confusing SAAG direction (high SAAG = portal HTN, not the reverse).
• Using amylase over lipase for late-presenting pancreatitis.
• Forgetting albumin co-administration in SBP (reduces hepatorenal syndrome).

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Endocrinology

Diabetes, thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary are perennial favourites.

Must-know high-yield topics

• Diabetes (ADA): diagnosis — FPG ≥ 126, 2h OGTT ≥ 200, HbA1c ≥ 6.5%, random ≥ 200 with symptoms. Prediabetes HbA1c 5.7–6.4%. Metformin first-line; SGLT2i and GLP-1 RA preferred with CVD/CKD/heart failure or for weight (major recent guideline shift).
• DKA vs HHS: DKA (ketosis, acidosis, younger/T1DM, anion gap) vs HHS (very high glucose > 600, hyperosmolar, minimal ketosis, T2DM, elderly). Treat: fluids → insulin → potassium monitoring.
• Thyroid: hyperthyroid (Graves — TSH-receptor antibody, exophthalmos, pretibial myxoedema), hypothyroid (Hashimoto — anti-TPO). Subclinical thyroid (abnormal TSH, normal T4). Thyroid storm emergency.
• Adrenal: Cushing (screen — overnight dexamethasone suppression / 24h urinary cortisol / midnight salivary cortisol), Addison (hyperpigmentation, hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia; ACTH stimulation test), Conn (primary hyperaldosteronism — HTN + hypokalaemia, ↑ aldosterone/renin ratio), pheochromocytoma (episodic HTN, plasma free metanephrines, rule of 10s).
• Pituitary: prolactinoma (cabergoline), acromegaly (IGF-1, OGTT GH non-suppression), diabetes insipidus (water deprivation test).
• Calcium: primary hyperparathyroidism (↑ Ca, ↑ PTH, stones-bones-groans), MEN syndromes.

Classic associations

Test	Condition
Anti-TPO	Hashimoto thyroiditis
TSH-receptor Ab (TRAb)	Graves disease
Plasma metanephrines	Pheochromocytoma
Aldosterone:renin ratio ↑	Conn syndrome
Low-dose dexamethasone suppression	Cushing screening

Traps

• Choosing most specific vs most sensitive test wrongly (e.g., screening Cushing vs confirming with high-dose dexamethasone).
• Forgetting to start fluids before insulin in DKA, and to replace potassium.
• Missing that beta-blockers must precede or accompany alpha-blockade caution — in pheo, alpha-blockade first then beta.

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Haematology

Anaemia classification, leukaemias/lymphomas, and coagulation.

Must-know high-yield topics

• Anaemia by MCV: microcytic (iron deficiency — ↓ ferritin, thalassaemia, sideroblastic, chronic disease), normocytic (haemolytic, aplastic, CKD), macrocytic (B12/folate — megaloblastic, hypothyroid, alcohol).
• Iron studies: IDA (↓ ferritin, ↑ TIBC, ↓ transferrin saturation); anaemia of chronic disease (↑/normal ferritin, ↓ TIBC).
• Haemolytic anaemias: spherocytosis (osmotic fragility, ↑ MCHC), G6PD (Heinz bodies, bite cells, oxidative stress/drugs), sickle cell, autoimmune (Coombs/DAT positive), microangiopathic (schistocytes — TTP/HUS/DIC).
• Leukaemias: AML (Auer rods), ALL (children, TdT+), CML (Philadelphia chromosome t(9;22) BCR-ABL, imatinib), CLL (smudge cells, elderly).
• Lymphomas: Hodgkin (Reed-Sternberg cells, contiguous spread, bimodal age), Non-Hodgkin.
• Myeloma: CRAB (hyperCalcaemia, Renal failure, Anaemia, Bone lesions), M-spike, Bence-Jones protein, rouleaux.
• Bleeding disorders: haemophilia A (factor VIII, ↑ aPTT), vWD (commonest inherited bleeding disorder), ITP (isolated low platelets), TTP (pentad — MAHA, thrombocytopenia, fever, renal, neuro; ADAMTS13 deficiency), DIC (↑ PT/aPTT, ↓ fibrinogen, ↑ D-dimer).

Classic associations

Finding	Diagnosis
Auer rods	AML
Philadelphia chromosome	CML
Reed-Sternberg cells	Hodgkin lymphoma
Schistocytes	MAHA (TTP/HUS/DIC)
ADAMTS13 deficiency	TTP
Smudge cells	CLL

Traps

• Confusing TTP (no transfuse platelets; do plasma exchange) with ITP.
• Mixing up iron-study patterns in IDA vs anaemia of chronic disease.

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Infectious Disease

Overlaps massively with Microbiology and Pharmacology.

Must-know high-yield topics

• Tuberculosis: RNTCP/NTEP regimens (HRZE intensive, HR continuation), DOTS, drug-resistant TB (MDR/XDR), bedaquiline-based shorter all-oral regimens (recent India update). Side effects: isoniazid (peripheral neuropathy — give pyridoxine; hepatotoxic), rifampicin (orange secretions, enzyme inducer), ethambutol (optic neuritis), pyrazinamide (hyperuricaemia).
• HIV/AIDS: CD4 counts and opportunistic infections (PCP < 200, toxoplasma/cryptococcus, MAC < 50, CMV retinitis); ART "treat all" regardless of CD4 (current policy); prophylaxis (cotrimoxazole < 200).
• Malaria: P. falciparum severity, blackwater fever; ACT for falciparum, primaquine for radical cure of vivax (check G6PD).
• Dengue: warning signs, NS1 antigen early, IgM later; thrombocytopenia, plasma leak (rising haematocrit); supportive fluids.
• Enteric fever: Salmonella typhi; Widal limitations, blood culture (best early), stool/urine later; ceftriaxone/azithromycin.
• Sepsis: qSOFA / SOFA, early antibiotics within 1 hour, lactate, fluids.
• Other India-relevant: leptospirosis, scrub typhus (eschar, doxycycline), kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis), rabies.

Classic associations

Clue	Diagnosis
Eschar	Scrub typhus
Rose spots	Typhoid fever
Tourniquet test positive	Dengue
Currant-jelly stool	Intussusception (and amoebic dysentery context)
Orange body secretions	Rifampicin

Traps

• Giving primaquine without G6PD testing (haemolysis).
• Relying on Widal for diagnosis when blood culture is the standard.
• Forgetting pyridoxine with INH.

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Rheumatology

Antibody profiles and clinical patterns are heavily tested.

Must-know high-yield topics

• SLE: ANA (sensitive screen), anti-dsDNA and anti-Smith (specific), malar rash, photosensitivity, lupus nephritis, anti-phospholipid (thrombosis, recurrent abortions). Drug-induced lupus — anti-histone (procainamide, hydralazine, isoniazid).
• Rheumatoid arthritis: symmetric small-joint, morning stiffness > 1 hr, RF and anti-CCP (more specific), erosions, methotrexate first-line DMARD; biologics (anti-TNF).
• Seronegative spondyloarthropathies (HLA-B27): ankylosing spondylitis (bamboo spine, sacroiliitis), reactive arthritis (can't see/pee/climb a tree), psoriatic, IBD-associated.
• Vasculitides: GPA/Wegener (c-ANCA/PR3, ENT + lung + kidney), MPA (p-ANCA/MPO), EGPA/Churg-Strauss (asthma, eosinophilia), Takayasu (pulseless disease, young women), GCA/temporal arteritis (jaw claudication, vision loss, ↑ ESR, steroids urgently).
• Crystal arthropathy: gout (monosodium urate, negatively birefringent needle-shaped, podagra), pseudogout (CPPD, positively birefringent rhomboid).
• Systemic sclerosis: anti-Scl-70 (diffuse), anti-centromere (limited/CREST), Raynaud.
• Sjögren: anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB; dry eyes/mouth.

Antibody table

Antibody	Disease
Anti-dsDNA, anti-Smith	SLE (specific)
Anti-histone	Drug-induced lupus
Anti-CCP	Rheumatoid arthritis
c-ANCA (PR3)	GPA (Wegener)
p-ANCA (MPO)	MPA, EGPA
Anti-Scl-70	Diffuse systemic sclerosis
Anti-centromere	Limited scleroderma/CREST
Anti-Ro/La	Sjögren

Traps

• Mixing up gout (negative) vs pseudogout (positive) birefringence.
• Confusing sensitive (ANA, RF) vs specific (anti-dsDNA/Smith, anti-CCP) antibodies.

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Cross-Subject Integration Points

Medicine is the integrator subject. Expect these overlaps:

• Pharmacology: drug of choice, adverse effects (INH neuropathy, amiodarone thyroid/lung, ACEi cough/hyperkalaemia, statin myopathy), drug-induced syndromes (lupus, SIADH, pancreatitis).
• Pathology: peripheral smear, blood picture, biopsy findings (crescents, granulomas, amyloid Congo-red apple-green birefringence), tumour markers.
• Microbiology: ID organisms, antibiotic sensitivity, CSF analysis, serology.
• Biochemistry: acid–base, enzyme patterns (troponin, lipase, LFT), inborn errors presenting in adults.
• Radiology: CXR (cavities, effusion, ILD), NCCT brain (stroke/bleed), echocardiography.
• Community Medicine: NTEP/TB programme, HIV policy, vaccination schedules, screening epidemiology.
• Surgery: acute abdomen overlap, GI bleed, thyroid/adrenal masses.
• PSM + Medicine frequently combine in national programme questions (TB, HIV, NCD).

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Recent Update Themes (Current-Exam Relevant)

Examiners increasingly test guideline shifts. Prioritise:

1. SGLT2 inhibitors everywhere — now indicated in heart failure (HFrEF and HFpEF), CKD (slowing progression), and diabetes with CVD; understand mechanism and contraindications (euglycaemic DKA risk).
2. Heart failure quadruple therapy — ARNI + beta-blocker + MRA + SGLT2i.
3. GINA asthma — anti-inflammatory reliever (ICS-formoterol), moving away from SABA-only.
4. Stroke thrombectomy window extended up to 24 hours in selected large-vessel occlusion with favourable imaging.
5. HIV "treat all" policy and integrase-inhibitor-based first-line regimens (dolutegravir).
6. TB shorter, all-oral, bedaquiline-containing regimens for drug-resistant TB in the Indian programme (NTEP).
7. Hypertension thresholds — ACC/AHA lower cut-offs vs ESC; know both and lifestyle + first-line agents.
8. GLP-1 receptor agonists for diabetes/obesity and cardiovascular/renal benefit.
9. KDIGO CKD classification by GFR + albuminuria grid.
10. Sepsis-3 (qSOFA/SOFA) definitions and 1-hour bundle.

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Practical Study Roadmap

Phase 1 — Foundation (build the spine)

• Start with Cardiology, Endocrinology, Nephrology (highest yield + most integrated).
• For each system: learn mechanism → presentation → diagnosis → first-line treatment.
• Make a dedicated ECG file and practise localisation daily.

Phase 2 — Breadth

• Cover Respiratory, GIT/Hepatology, Neurology, Haematology, Infectious Disease, Rheumatology.
• Build antibody, criteria-score, and value/cut-off charts as you go (these are pure-recall marks).

Phase 3 — Integration & PYQs

• Solve previous-year questions (PYQs) topic-wise; they reveal repeat patterns.
• Cross-link with Pharmacology (drug of choice) and Pathology (smears/biopsy).

Phase 4 — Consolidation

• Take subject-wise and grand tests under timed conditions.
• Maintain an error log; revisit weak systems.

Daily discipline

• One image/ECG daily, 30 PYQ MCQs daily, one revision chart reviewed.

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Last-Week Revision Strategy

In the final 7 days, do not learn new topics. Instead:

1. Day 1–2: Revise high-yield charts — antibodies, criteria scores (Light's, Duke, CURB-65, Child-Pugh, MELD, Wells, CHA₂DS₂-VASc), and cut-off values.
2. Day 3: ECG patterns + image bank (smear, fundus, CXR).
3. Day 4: Guideline updates (SGLT2i, GINA, stroke window, HIV/TB programme).
4. Day 5: Drug-of-choice and adverse-effect tables.
5. Day 6: Rapid one-liner associations + mnemonics.
6. Day 7: Light review of your error log; rest well. Do not start anything new.

Focus on most common cause / most specific test / first-line drug triads — they convert directly into marks.

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High-Yield Quick-Reference Tables

Diagnostic criteria & scores

Tool	Application	Key cut-off
Light's criteria	Exudate vs transudate	Protein ratio > 0.5, LDH ratio > 0.6
CURB-65	CAP severity	≥ 3 = admit/ICU consideration
CHA₂DS₂-VASc	AF stroke risk → anticoagulation	≥ 2 (men), ≥ 3 (women)
Modified Duke	Infective endocarditis	2 major / 1 major+3 minor / 5 minor
SAAG	Ascites cause	≥ 1.1 = portal hypertension
MELD	Liver transplant priority	Higher = worse

Acid–base quick guide

Disorder	pH	Primary change	Compensation
Metabolic acidosis	↓	↓ HCO₃	↓ PaCO₂ (hyperventilation)
Metabolic alkalosis	↑	↑ HCO₃	↑ PaCO₂
Respiratory acidosis	↓	↑ PaCO₂	↑ HCO₃ (renal)
Respiratory alkalosis	↑	↓ PaCO₂	↓ HCO₃

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Mnemonics

• HAGMA causes — GOLD MARK: Glycols, Oxoproline, L-lactate, D-lactate, Methanol, Aspirin, Renal failure, Ketoacidosis.
• Myeloma — CRAB: hyperCalcaemia, Renal failure, Anaemia, Bone lesions.
• TTP pentad — FAT RN: Fever, Anaemia (MAHA), Thrombocytopenia, Renal, Neuro.
• Reactive arthritis — "Can't see, can't pee, can't climb a tree": conjunctivitis, urethritis, arthritis.
• Cushing screen — "DUM": Dexamethasone suppression, Urinary free cortisol, Midnight salivary cortisol.
• Hyperkalaemia treatment order — "C BIG K Drop": Calcium, Bicarbonate/Beta-agonist, Insulin+Glucose, Kayexalate, Dialysis.
• Wells/PE risk and Charcot's triad (cholangitis — fever, jaundice, RUQ pain).

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Rapid-Fire One-Liners

1. Inferior MI (II, III, aVF) with hypotension → suspect RV infarct → give fluids, avoid nitrates.
2. Negatively birefringent needle-shaped crystals = gout; positively birefringent rhomboid = pseudogout.
3. Anti-dsDNA and anti-Smith are specific for SLE; ANA is the sensitive screen.
4. Albuminocytological dissociation in CSF = Guillain-Barré syndrome (treat IVIG/plasmapheresis, not steroids).
5. SAAG ≥ 1.1 g/dL = portal hypertensive ascites.
6. Most common cause of infective endocarditis overall = Staphylococcus aureus; in IVDU = right-sided (tricuspid).
7. Auer rods = AML; Philadelphia chromosome t(9;22) = CML (imatinib).
8. Torsades de pointes → IV magnesium sulphate.
9. SBP diagnosed when ascitic fluid PMN ≥ 250/mm³; treat cephalosporin + albumin.
10. HSV encephalitis → temporal lobe changes; start IV acyclovir empirically before confirmation.
11. Add pyridoxine with isoniazid to prevent peripheral neuropathy; check G6PD before primaquine.
12. SGLT2 inhibitors now benefit heart failure, CKD, and diabetes with CVD — but watch for euglycaemic DKA.

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Master the mechanisms, lock in the criteria and cut-offs, drill the antibody and drug-of-choice tables, and Medicine will repay you more generously than any other single subject in NEET PG and INI-CET.