Endocrine drugs: pasireotide in Cushing disease: 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 · Endocrine drugs: pasireotide in Cushing disease

Sample item

A woman with persistent Cushing disease after pituitary surgery is treated with pasireotide, a somatostatin analogue with high affinity for SST5. Compared with octreotide, which adverse effect is more frequent?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Hyperglycaemia

Pasireotide binds SST5, which is abundant on corticotroph adenomas and also on pancreatic beta cells. Its stronger suppression of insulin and incretin secretion makes hyperglycaemia and new diabetes common. Glucose needs close monitoring, as for octreotide's gallstone and bradycardia risks.

Option by option

  • A. Hyperkalaemia

    Hyperkalaemia is not a typical effect of somatostatin analogues.

  • B. Hypercalcaemia

    Hypercalcaemia is not a typical effect of somatostatin analogues.

  • C. Hypoglycaemia

    Hypoglycaemia is not the dominant effect, because insulin secretion is suppressed.

  • D. Hyperglycaemia (correct)

    Correct. Suppression of insulin secretion through SST5 causes hyperglycaemia.

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, Hyperglycaemia. Pasireotide binds SST5, which is abundant on corticotroph adenomas and also on pancreatic beta cells.

Why is "Hyperkalaemia" not the answer?

Hyperkalaemia is not a typical effect of somatostatin analogues.

Why is "Hypercalcaemia" not the answer?

Hypercalcaemia is not a typical effect of somatostatin analogues.

Why is "Hypoglycaemia" not the answer?

Hypoglycaemia is not the dominant effect, because insulin secretion is suppressed.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Endocrine drugs: pasireotide in Cushing disease in Pharmacology. Its stronger suppression of insulin and incretin secretion makes hyperglycaemia and new diabetes common. Glucose needs close monitoring, as for octreotide's gallstone and bradycardia risks.

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 Endocrine drugs: pasireotide in Cushing disease?

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.