Papulosquamous disorders: acitretin: 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.

Try it

Dermatology · Papulosquamous disorders: acitretin

Sample item

A woman of childbearing age with palmoplantar pustulosis is prescribed acitretin. What is the most important counselling point?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Avoid pregnancy during and for 3 years after treatment

Acitretin is a teratogenic oral retinoid with a very long elimination in the presence of alcohol because etretinate forms, so contraception is advised during and for 3 years after therapy. Hyperlipidaemia and hepatotoxicity are other adverse effects.

Option by option

  • A. It is safe in pregnancy after the first trimester

    It is contraindicated throughout pregnancy.

  • B. It is a topical vitamin D analogue

    Calcipotriol is the topical vitamin D analogue.

  • C. It is immunosuppressive and needs TB screening

    Retinoids are not immunosuppressive in the usual sense.

  • D. Avoid pregnancy during and for 3 years after treatment (correct)

    Correct. Prolonged contraception is mandatory.

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 Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is D, Avoid pregnancy during and for 3 years after treatment. Acitretin is a teratogenic oral retinoid with a very long elimination in the presence of alcohol because etretinate forms, so contraception is advised during and for 3 years after therapy.

Why is "It is safe in pregnancy after the first trimester" not the answer?

It is contraindicated throughout pregnancy.

Why is "It is a topical vitamin D analogue" not the answer?

Calcipotriol is the topical vitamin D analogue.

Why is "It is immunosuppressive and needs TB screening" not the answer?

Retinoids are not immunosuppressive in the usual sense.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Papulosquamous disorders: acitretin in Dermatology. Hyperlipidaemia and hepatotoxicity are other adverse effects.

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 Papulosquamous disorders: acitretin?

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.