Pregnancy: tetracyclines: 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 · Pregnancy: tetracyclines

Sample item

A woman at 28 weeks of pregnancy is inadvertently treated with tetracycline for two weeks. Which fetal adverse effect is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Yellow-brown discolouration of teeth and enamel hypoplasia

Tetracyclines chelate calcium and deposit in developing bones and teeth after about the fourth month, causing permanent tooth staining, enamel hypoplasia and transient bone growth inhibition. They are avoided from the second trimester and in children under 8 years. Maternal hepatotoxicity can also occur.

Option by option

  • A. Kernicterus

    Kernicterus is a risk with sulfonamides near term because of bilirubin displacement.

  • B. Cardiovascular collapse with grey skin

    Cardiovascular collapse with grey skin describes chloramphenicol in neonates.

  • C. Eighth cranial nerve damage

    Eighth nerve damage is associated with streptomycin and other aminoglycosides.

  • D. Yellow-brown discolouration of teeth and enamel hypoplasia (correct)

    Correct. Calcium chelation in forming teeth and bone causes staining and hypoplasia.

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 D, Yellow-brown discolouration of teeth and enamel hypoplasia. Tetracyclines chelate calcium and deposit in developing bones and teeth after about the fourth month, causing permanent tooth staining, enamel hypoplasia and transient bone growth inhibition.

Why is "Kernicterus" not the answer?

Kernicterus is a risk with sulfonamides near term because of bilirubin displacement.

Why is "Cardiovascular collapse with grey skin" not the answer?

Cardiovascular collapse with grey skin describes chloramphenicol in neonates.

Why is "Eighth cranial nerve damage" not the answer?

Eighth nerve damage is associated with streptomycin and other aminoglycosides.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pregnancy: tetracyclines in Pharmacology. They are avoided from the second trimester and in children under 8 years. Maternal hepatotoxicity can also occur.

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 Pregnancy: tetracyclines?

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.