Paper I — 2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) — Qviii
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Paper I
2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) · 100 marks · 180 min
Question
The following statements about spironolactone are true:
It is a potassium sparing diuretic
It can cause gynecomastia and impotence
It acts on the thick ascending limb of Loop of Henle
It is combined with lisinopril to counteract hypokalemia
a) 1 & 2
b) 1 & 4
c) 2 & 4
d) 1 & 3
Qviii1 marksMCQs
Answer
Correct answer: a) 1 & 2
Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic (aldosterone antagonist) and can cause gynecomastia/impotence from anti-androgenic/progestogenic cross-reactivity at other steroid receptors. It acts on the collecting duct, not the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle (that is the site of loop diuretics). Combining it with lisinopril (an ACE inhibitor) would risk dangerous hyperkalemia, not counteract hypokalemia — both drugs independently raise serum potassium.
