American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

What is a known side effect of Vinblastine?

1. Nephrotoxicity

2. Myelosuppression

3. Pulmonary fibrosis

4. Hemorrhagic cystitis

The correct answer is: Myelosuppression

Vinblastine is an antineoplastic medication that belongs to the class of vinca alkaloids, and it is commonly used in the treatment of various cancers, including Hodgkin's lymphoma and testicular cancer. A significant side effect associated with vinblastine is myelosuppression, which is the decrease in the production of blood cells due to the suppression of bone marrow function. This can lead to conditions such as anemia, leukopenia (reduced white blood cell count), and thrombocytopenia (reduced platelet count), increasing the patient's risk for infections, fatigue, and bleeding complications. Myelosuppression occurs because vinblastine interferes with the rapidly dividing cells in the bone marrow, which are responsible for producing blood cells. This is a known and well-documented side effect of many chemotherapeutic agents, particularly those targeting rapidly dividing cells. In contrast, nephrotoxicity, pulmonary fibrosis, and hemorrhagic cystitis are side effects more commonly associated with other chemotherapeutic agents. For instance, nephrotoxicity is often linked to cisplatin, pulmonary fibrosis is a notable risk with bleomycin, and hemorrhagic cystitis is mainly associated with the use of cyclophosphamide. Understanding the