Antenatal care: intravenous iron: practice question

A OBG 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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OBG · Antenatal care: intravenous iron

Sample item

A woman at 26 weeks with Hb 8 g/dL has not responded to oral iron. Which statement about intravenous iron in pregnancy is correct?

AFerric carboxymaltose or iron sucrose can be given in the second and third trimestersBIt is absolutely contraindicated in pregnancyCIt must be given as an intramuscular depot every weekDIt is safe only in the first trimester

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Ferric carboxymaltose or iron sucrose can be given in the second and third trimesters

IV iron (iron sucrose, ferric carboxymaltose) is recommended in the second and third trimesters for iron deficiency anaemia when oral iron fails, is not tolerated, or time to delivery is short. It is avoided in the first trimester. Iron dextran test dosing is needed only for older preparations.

Option by option

A. Ferric carboxymaltose or iron sucrose can be given in the second and third trimesters (correct)
Correct. It is safe and effective after the first trimester.
B. It is absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy
IV iron is not contraindicated and is used widely in India.
C. It must be given as an intramuscular depot every week
Modern preparations are given intravenously, not as weekly depot injections.
D. It is safe only in the first trimester
It is avoided in the first trimester, not restricted to it.

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.

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is A, Ferric carboxymaltose or iron sucrose can be given in the second and third trimesters. IV iron (iron sucrose, ferric carboxymaltose) is recommended in the second and third trimesters for iron deficiency anaemia when oral iron fails, is not tolerated, or time to delivery is short.

Why is "It is absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy" not the answer?

IV iron is not contraindicated and is used widely in India.

Why is "It must be given as an intramuscular depot every week" not the answer?

Modern preparations are given intravenously, not as weekly depot injections.

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

It is avoided in the first trimester, not restricted to it.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antenatal care: intravenous iron in OBG. It is avoided in the first trimester. Iron dextran test dosing is needed only for older preparations.

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 Antenatal care: intravenous iron?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG 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.