Drug reactions: hydroxychloroquine retinal screening: practice question

A Dermatology 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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Dermatology · Drug reactions: hydroxychloroquine retinal screening

Sample item

A woman with discoid lupus has taken hydroxychloroquine for 6 years. Which routine monitoring is most important?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Periodic ophthalmological screening for retinopathy

Hydroxychloroquine can cause dose- and duration-related bull's-eye maculopathy, so baseline and yearly retinal screening after about 5 years of use is advised. Dosing should be by body weight. Other adverse effects include skin pigmentation and hypoglycaemia.

Option by option

  • A. Annual chest radiograph for fibrosis

    Pulmonary fibrosis is an amiodarone or methotrexate issue.

  • B. Serial audiograms

    Ototoxicity is typical of aminoglycosides and cisplatin.

  • C. Monthly serum creatinine for nephrotoxicity

    Nephrotoxicity is not the major concern.

  • D. Periodic ophthalmological screening for retinopathy (correct)

    Correct. Retinopathy is the principal toxicity needing screening.

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 Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is D, Periodic ophthalmological screening for retinopathy. Hydroxychloroquine can cause dose- and duration-related bull's-eye maculopathy, so baseline and yearly retinal screening after about 5 years of use is advised.

Why is "Annual chest radiograph for fibrosis" not the answer?

Pulmonary fibrosis is an amiodarone or methotrexate issue.

Why is "Serial audiograms" not the answer?

Ototoxicity is typical of aminoglycosides and cisplatin.

Why is "Monthly serum creatinine for nephrotoxicity" not the answer?

Nephrotoxicity is not the major concern.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Drug reactions: hydroxychloroquine retinal screening in Dermatology. Dosing should be by body weight. Other adverse effects include skin pigmentation and hypoglycaemia.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Drug reactions: hydroxychloroquine retinal screening?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology 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.