Retina: hydroxychloroquine toxicity: practice question

A Ophthalmology 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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Ophthalmology · Retina: hydroxychloroquine toxicity

Sample item

A woman on long-term hydroxychloroquine for lupus has a paracentral ring scotoma and a bull's eye lesion at the macula. Which is the key risk factor?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Daily dose above 5 mg/kg real body weight and long duration

Antimalarial retinopathy is dose and duration dependent, and screening with fields and OCT begins after 5 years. Renal impairment and tamoxifen also raise risk.

Option by option

  • A. Low dose below 2 mg/kg

    Low doses are not typically toxic.

  • B. Short course of therapy

    Short treatment is rarely toxic.

  • C. Daily dose above 5 mg/kg real body weight and long duration (correct)

    Correct. High cumulative dose raises risk.

  • D. Concurrent steroids

    Steroids are not the risk factor.

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 Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is C, Daily dose above 5 mg/kg real body weight and long duration. Antimalarial retinopathy is dose and duration dependent, and screening with fields and OCT begins after 5 years.

Why is "Low dose below 2 mg/kg" not the answer?

Low doses are not typically toxic.

Why is "Short course of therapy" not the answer?

Short treatment is rarely toxic.

Why is "Concurrent steroids" not the answer?

Steroids are not the risk factor.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Retina: hydroxychloroquine toxicity in Ophthalmology. Renal impairment and tamoxifen also raise risk.

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 Retina: hydroxychloroquine toxicity?

Group the red eye by what to examine and what the pupil does. Then use the flashcards and the other Ophthalmology 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.