Which of the following is true regarding drugs as teratogens Mcq?

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  • Drugs that can cause birth defects are said to be ‘teratogenic drugs’.
  • Medical science cannot always predict how exposure to a teratogenic drug will affect a developing fetus.
  • It can be dangerous for a pregnant woman to stop taking prescription drugs if she has a medical condition or becomes ill. Without treatment, the health and welfare of both the mother and her unborn baby could be at risk.

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Which of the following is true regarding drugs as teratogens Mcq?

Which of the following is true regarding drugs as teratogens Mcq?

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

Which of the following is true regarding drugs as teratogens Mcq?

Which of the following is true regarding drugs as teratogens Mcq?

  • The cause of birth defects is often unknown, speak to your GP if you are at increased risk of having a baby with a congenital anomaly.

  • Folic acid taken before conception, and during at least the first four weeks of pregnancy, can prevent around seven out of 10 cases of neural tube defects.

  • Most cleft palates and cleft lips can be repaired so that appearance and speech develop normally.

  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) can affect a child's normal growth and development, including normal growth of the genitals.

  • Most children born with cri du chat syndrome have moderate intellectual disability, with varying degrees of speech delay and some health problems.

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A teratogen is any agent that causes an abnormality following fetal exposure during pregnancy. Teratogens are usually discovered after an increased prevalence of a particular birth defect. For example, in the early 1960’s, a drug known as thalidomide was used to treat morning sickness. Exposure of the fetus during this early stage of development resulted in cases of phocomelia, a congenital malformation in which the hands and feet are attached to abbreviated arms and legs.

Teratogens can also be found at home or the workplace. The effect is related to type of agent, dose and duration and time of exposure. The first half of pregnancy is the most vulnerable. Teratogenic agents include infectious agents (rubella, cytomegalovirus, varicella, herpes simplex, toxoplasma, syphilis, etc.); physical agents (ionizing agents, hyperthermia); maternal health factors (diabetes, maternal PKU); environmental chemicals (organic mercury compounds, polychlorinated biphenyl or PCB, herbicides and industrial solvents); and drugs (prescription, over- the-counter, or recreational). In general, if medication is required, the lowest dose possible should be used and combination drug therapies and first trimester exposures should be avoided.

The types or severity of abnormalities caused by a teratogenic agent is also dependent on the genetic susceptibilities carried by the mother and fetus. For example, variation in maternal metabolism of a particular drug will determine what metabolites the fetus is exposed to and the duration of exposure. The genetic susceptibility of the fetus to a particular teratogenic agent will also have an effect on the final outcome.

Two of the leading preventable causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities are alcohol and smoking. Alcohol use in pregnancy has significant effects on the fetus and the baby. Alcohol can pass from the mother’s blood stream through the placenta to the fetus. Since alcohol is broken down more slowly in a fetus than in an adult, alcohol levels tend to remain high and stay in the baby’s body longer. Birth defects associated with prenatal exposure to alcohol can occur in the first three to eight weeks of pregnancy, before a woman even knows that she is pregnant.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a group of abnormalities in babies born to mothers who consume alcohol during pregnancy. It is the most common known non-genetic (non-inherited) cause of mental retardation in the U.S. Several educational materials in English and Spanish are available from the CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fas/faspub.htm.

In 2001, the estimated prevalence of smoking during pregnancy for all U.S. women was 11.4%, ranging from 3.9% in DC to 26.2% in West Virginia. Smoking nearly doubles a woman’s risk of having a low birth-weight baby as a result of poor growth before birth, preterm delivery or a combination of both. Premature and low birth-weight babies face an increased risk of serious health problems during the newborn period, chronic lifelong disabilities (e.g., cerebral palsy, mental retardation) and possibly death. More recent studies have suggested a possible link between prenatal smoking exposure and behavioral problems in later childhood and adolescence.

In addition, almost three percent of pregnant women use illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, Ecstasy and other amphetamines, and heroin. These drugs can cause low birth-weight, withdrawal symptoms, birth defects, or learning or behavioral problems.

More information about specific teratogens can be found the following web-sites:

  • Reprotox–an online Information System on Environmental Hazards to Human Reproduction and Development http://reprotox.org/

Which of the following is true regarding drugs as teratogens?

Which of the following is true regarding drugs as teratogens? All illegal drugs are teratogens. The FDA will not approve prescription drugs if they are teratogens. If a medical drug is a teratogen, it must be prescribed by a doctor and is not available over the counter.

Which of the following is considered to be a teratogenic drugs?

Acne medication isotretinoin (Accutane, Retin-A). Alcohol ingested chronically or in binges. Androgens (male hormones). Antibiotics tetracycline (Achromycin), and doxycycline (Vibramycin), and streptomycin.

Which of the following are potential effects of a teratogens on fetus?

Teratogens may affect the embryo or fetus in a number of ways, causing physical malformations, problems in the behavioral or emotional development of the child, and decreased intellectual quotient (IQ) in the child.

Which of the following prescription drugs can function as teratogen?

Drugs that are capable of acting as teratogens include:.
ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors such as: ... .
Acne medication isotretinoin (Accutane, Retin-A)..
Alcohol ingested chronically or in binges..
Androgens (male hormones)..
Antibiotics tetracycline (Achromycin), and doxycycline (Vibramycin), and streptomycin..