Toxicology: iron: 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.

Try it

Pharmacology · Toxicology: iron

Sample item

A 3-year-old child who swallowed his mother's iron tablets has haematemesis, abdominal pain and shock, and the serum iron is well above 500 mcg/dL. Which chelator is used?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Intravenous deferoxamine

Deferoxamine binds ferric iron to form ferrioxamine, which is excreted in urine and may colour it vin rose. It is given intravenously in symptomatic or severe iron poisoning, together with resuscitation. Dimercaprol forms toxic complexes with iron and is contraindicated, and activated charcoal does not bind iron.

Option by option

  • A. Calcium disodium EDTA

    Calcium disodium EDTA is used for lead, not iron.

  • B. Dimercaprol

    Dimercaprol forms a toxic complex with iron and should not be used.

  • C. Intravenous deferoxamine (correct)

    Deferoxamine chelates free iron to form a renally excreted complex.

  • D. Oral succimer

    Succimer is oral and used for lead, not for acute iron toxicity.

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.

More Pharmacology questions

Questions about this Pharmacology question

What is the answer to this Pharmacology question?

The best answer is C, Intravenous deferoxamine. Deferoxamine binds ferric iron to form ferrioxamine, which is excreted in urine and may colour it vin rose.

Why is "Calcium disodium EDTA" not the answer?

Calcium disodium EDTA is used for lead, not iron.

Why is "Dimercaprol" not the answer?

Dimercaprol forms a toxic complex with iron and should not be used.

Why is "Oral succimer" not the answer?

Succimer is oral and used for lead, not for acute iron toxicity.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Toxicology: iron in Pharmacology. It is given intravenously in symptomatic or severe iron poisoning, together with resuscitation. Dimercaprol forms toxic complexes with iron and is contraindicated, and activated charcoal does not bind iron.

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 Toxicology: iron?

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.