Transplantation: cyclosporin adverse effects: practice question

A General Surgery 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

General Surgery · Transplantation: cyclosporin adverse effects

Sample item

A renal transplant recipient on cyclosporin develops gum hypertrophy, hirsutism and hypertension with rising creatinine. Which drug class does cyclosporin belong to?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Calcineurin inhibitor

Cyclosporin and tacrolimus inhibit calcineurin, blocking IL-2 transcription and T-cell activation. Cyclosporin causes nephrotoxicity, hypertension, gingival hyperplasia and hirsutism, while tacrolimus causes more diabetes and neurotoxicity. Drug levels are monitored.

Option by option

  • A. Antimetabolite

    Azathioprine and mycophenolate are antimetabolites.

  • B. Anti-CD25 antibody

    Basiliximab is an anti-CD25 antibody.

  • C. mTOR inhibitor

    Sirolimus and everolimus are mTOR inhibitors.

  • D. Calcineurin inhibitor (correct)

    Correct. Cyclosporin is a calcineurin inhibitor.

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 General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is D, Calcineurin inhibitor. Cyclosporin and tacrolimus inhibit calcineurin, blocking IL-2 transcription and T-cell activation.

Why is "Antimetabolite" not the answer?

Azathioprine and mycophenolate are antimetabolites.

Why is "Anti-CD25 antibody" not the answer?

Basiliximab is an anti-CD25 antibody.

Why is "mTOR inhibitor" not the answer?

Sirolimus and everolimus are mTOR inhibitors.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Transplantation: cyclosporin adverse effects in General Surgery. Cyclosporin causes nephrotoxicity, hypertension, gingival hyperplasia and hirsutism, while tacrolimus causes more diabetes and neurotoxicity. Drug levels are monitored.

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 Transplantation: cyclosporin adverse effects?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.