Antepartum haemorrhage: abruption and DIC: 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.

Try it

OBG · Antepartum haemorrhage: abruption and DIC

Sample item

In concealed placental abruption, which laboratory finding best predicts severe PPH and coagulopathy?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Low plasma fibrinogen (below 200 mg/dL)

Retroplacental clot consumes fibrinogen, and a level below 200 mg/dL is a strong predictor of severe haemorrhage. A bedside clot observation test (failure to clot in 7 to 10 minutes) is a simple indicator. Treatment is delivery with blood products including cryoprecipitate.

Option by option

  • A. Low blood urea

    Urea is not predictive.

  • B. High haemoglobin

    Haemoglobin may be normal early.

  • C. Low plasma fibrinogen (below 200 mg/dL) (correct)

    Correct. Hypofibrinogenaemia predicts severe bleeding.

  • D. High platelet count

    Platelets fall, not rise, in DIC.

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 OBG questions

Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is C, Low plasma fibrinogen (below 200 mg/dL). Retroplacental clot consumes fibrinogen, and a level below 200 mg/dL is a strong predictor of severe haemorrhage.

Why is "Low blood urea" not the answer?

Urea is not predictive.

Why is "High haemoglobin" not the answer?

Haemoglobin may be normal early.

Why is "High platelet count" not the answer?

Platelets fall, not rise, in DIC.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antepartum haemorrhage: abruption and DIC in OBG. A bedside clot observation test (failure to clot in 7 to 10 minutes) is a simple indicator. Treatment is delivery with blood products including cryoprecipitate.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Antepartum haemorrhage: abruption and DIC?

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.