Drugs in pregnancy: ribavirin: 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: ribavirin

Sample item

A woman with chronic hepatitis C is treated with interferon and ribavirin. Which statement about ribavirin is correct?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. It is teratogenic and causes dose-related haemolytic anaemia

Ribavirin is a guanosine analogue that is embryocidal and teratogenic in animals, so it is contraindicated in pregnancy and in female partners of men taking it. Its dose-limiting toxicity is haemolytic anaemia from red cell accumulation. Direct-acting antiviral regimens have largely replaced it.

Option by option

  • A. It is safe in pregnancy and causes ototoxicity

    Ribavirin is not safe in pregnancy, and ototoxicity is not its main toxicity.

  • B. It is teratogenic and causes crystal nephropathy

    Crystal nephropathy is a feature of aciclovir and indinavir.

  • C. It is safe in pregnancy but causes nephrotoxicity

    Ribavirin is not safe in pregnancy, and nephrotoxicity is not its main toxicity.

  • D. It is teratogenic and causes dose-related haemolytic anaemia (correct)

    Correct. Ribavirin is teratogenic and causes haemolytic anaemia.

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, It is teratogenic and causes dose-related haemolytic anaemia. Ribavirin is a guanosine analogue that is embryocidal and teratogenic in animals, so it is contraindicated in pregnancy and in female partners of men taking it.

Why is "It is safe in pregnancy and causes ototoxicity" not the answer?

Ribavirin is not safe in pregnancy, and ototoxicity is not its main toxicity.

Why is "It is teratogenic and causes crystal nephropathy" not the answer?

Crystal nephropathy is a feature of aciclovir and indinavir.

Why is "It is safe in pregnancy but causes nephrotoxicity" not the answer?

Ribavirin is not safe in pregnancy, and nephrotoxicity is not its main toxicity.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Drugs in pregnancy: ribavirin in Pharmacology. Its dose-limiting toxicity is haemolytic anaemia from red cell accumulation. Direct-acting antiviral regimens have largely replaced it.

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: ribavirin?

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.