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Question 415
Pathology → General
Classification
Question
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Two patients undergo otherwise comparable surgery with satisfactory local wound conditions. One is receiving prolonged systemic glucocorticoid therapy. Which outcome is most consistent with the pathological principles of wound healing?
Question Stem
Select the single best answer.
Options
A
Accelerated collagen accumulation
B
Delayed wound healing
C
Increased regenerative hyperplasia of permanent cells
D
Enhanced vascular granulation tissue formation
E
Immediate restoration of normal tensile strength
Explanation
Glucocorticoid therapy is one of the systemic factors identified as delaying wound healing. Other systemic influences include age, nutritional deficiencies, systemic infection, uncontrolled diabetes and haematological abnormalities.
Option Validity
A) Glucocorticoid exposure does not accelerate the repair process.
C) Permanent cells have little or no regenerative hyperplastic capacity, and this does not explain the wound effect.
D) Glucocorticoids are associated with impaired rather than enhanced healing.
E) Tensile strength develops progressively as collagen accumulates and is not restored immediately.
Further Reading
Saxena R. Textbook for MRCOG-1. Chapter 5: Pathology. General Pathology, pp.161–175.