Medication safety in pregnancy — MCQs

A 25-year-old G1P0 woman at an estimated gestational age of 9 weeks presents for her first prenatal visit following a positive home pregnancy test. She says she missed 2 periods but assumed it was due to stress at work. She has decided to continue with the pregnancy. Her past medical history is significant for migraine headaches, seizures, and asthma. She takes multiple medications for her condition. Physical examination is unremarkable. An ultrasound confirms a 9-week-old intrauterine pregnancy. Which of the following medications poses the greatest risk to the fetus?

A 30-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 1, comes to the physician because she had a positive pregnancy test at home. During the last two weeks, she has had nausea and two episodes of non-bloody vomiting. She also reports increased urinary frequency. Her pregnancy and delivery of her first child were uncomplicated. Last year, she had two episodes of grand-mal seizure. She is sexually active with her husband and they use condoms inconsistently. She does not smoke or drink alcohol. She does not use illicit drugs. Current medications include valproic acid and a multivitamin. Her vital signs are within normal limits. Physical examination shows no abnormalities. A urine pregnancy test is positive. The child is at increased risk for requiring which of the following interventions?

A 33-year-old Hispanic woman who recently immigrated to the United States with her newborn daughter is presenting to a free clinic for a wellness checkup for her baby. As part of screening for those immigrating or seeking refuge in the United States, she and her child are both evaluated for tuberculosis. The child’s purified protein derivative (PPD) test and chest radiograph are negative, and although the mother’s chest radiograph is also negative, her PPD is positive. She states that she is currently asymptomatic and has no known history of tuberculosis (TB). The mother’s vital signs include: blood pressure 124/76 mm Hg, heart rate 74/min, and respiratory rate 14/min. She is advised to begin treatment with isoniazid, supplemented with pyridoxine for the next 9 months. She asks about the potential for harm to the child if she begins this course of treatment since she is breastfeeding. Which of the following is the most appropriate response to this patient’s concerns?

A 32-year-old primigravid woman with a history of seizures comes to the physician because she had a positive pregnancy test at home. Medications include valproic acid and a multivitamin. Physical examination shows no abnormalities. A urine pregnancy test is positive. Her baby is at increased risk for requiring which of the following interventions?

A 25-year-old G1P1 with a history of diabetes and epilepsy gives birth to a female infant at 32 weeks gestation. The mother had no prenatal care and took no prenatal vitamins. The child's temperature is 98.6°F (37°C), blood pressure is 100/70 mmHg, pulse is 130/min, and respirations are 25/min. On physical examination in the delivery room, the child's skin is pink throughout and she cries on stimulation. All four extremities are moving spontaneously. A tuft of hair is found overlying the infant's lumbosacral region. Which of the following medications was this patient most likely taking during her pregnancy?

A 3670-g (8 lb 1 oz) male newborn is delivered to a 26-year-old primigravid woman. She received adequate prenatal care and labor was uncomplicated. She has chronic hepatitis B infection and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Her only medication is ranitidine. She admits to smoking cannabis and one half-pack of cigarettes daily. She drinks two beers on the weekend. The mother is apprehensive about taking care of her baby and requests for some information regarding breastfeeding. Which of the following is a contraindication to breastfeeding?

A 32-year-old G2P0A1 woman presents at 36 weeks of gestation for the first time during her pregnancy. The patient has no complaints, currently. However, her past medical history reveals seizure disorder, which is under control with valproic acid and lithium. She has not seen her neurologist during the past 2 years, in the absence of any complaints. She also reports a previous history of elective abortion. The physical examination is insignificant. Her blood pressure is 130/75 mm Hg and pulse is 80/min. The patient is scheduled to undergo regular laboratory tests and abdominal ultrasound. Given her past medical history, which of the following conditions is her fetus most likely going to develop?

A 44-year-old woman with high blood pressure and diabetes presents to the outpatient clinic and informs you that she is trying to get pregnant. Her current medications include lisinopril, metformin, and sitagliptin. Her blood pressure is 136/92 mm Hg and heart rate is 79/min. Her physical examination is unremarkable. What should you do regarding her medication for high blood pressure?

A 30-year-old female with a history of epilepsy becomes pregnant. Her epilepsy has been well controlled by taking a medication that inhibits GABA transaminase and blocks voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels. Her obstetrician informs her that her epilepsy medication has been shown to have teratogenic effects. Of the following, which teratogenic effect is this woman's medication most likely to cause?

A 29-year-old woman presents to a medical office complaining of fatigue, nausea, and vomiting for 1 week. Recently, the smell of certain foods makes her nauseous. Her symptoms are more pronounced in the mornings. The emesis is clear-to-yellow without blood. She has had no recent travel out of the country. The medical history is significant for peptic ulcer, for which she takes pantoprazole. The blood pressure is 100/60 mm Hg, the pulse is 70/min, and the respiratory rate is 12/min. The physical examination reveals pale mucosa and conjunctiva, and bilateral breast tenderness. The LMP was 9 weeks ago. What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?