Drugs in pregnancy: fetal hydantoin syndrome: practice question

A Pharmacology 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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Pharmacology · Drugs in pregnancy: fetal hydantoin syndrome

Sample item

A child born to a mother with epilepsy has cleft palate, hypoplastic nails and distal phalanges and growth deficiency. Which drug was she taking?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Phenytoin

Fetal hydantoin syndrome includes craniofacial anomalies, nail and digit hypoplasia, and developmental delay. Folic acid supplementation is advised in women on antiepileptics.

Option by option

  • A. Lamotrigine

    Lamotrigine has lower malformation risk.

  • B. Ethosuximide

    Ethosuximide is not linked to this syndrome.

  • C. Phenytoin (correct)

    Correct. This is the fetal hydantoin syndrome.

  • D. Levetiracetam

    Levetiracetam has lower malformation risk.

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 Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is C, Phenytoin. Fetal hydantoin syndrome includes craniofacial anomalies, nail and digit hypoplasia, and developmental delay.

Why is "Lamotrigine" not the answer?

Lamotrigine has lower malformation risk.

Why is "Ethosuximide" not the answer?

Ethosuximide is not linked to this syndrome.

Why is "Levetiracetam" not the answer?

Levetiracetam has lower malformation risk.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Drugs in pregnancy: fetal hydantoin syndrome in Pharmacology. Folic acid supplementation is advised in women on antiepileptics.

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 Drugs in pregnancy: fetal hydantoin syndrome?

Learn drugs as classes, then the exception in each class that an examiner would pick. Then use the flashcards and the other Pharmacology 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.