A 60-year-old man on prolonged high-dose corticosteroids for pemphigoid undergoes an elective hernia repair. The surgeon wishes to counteract the known impairment of wound healing caused by steroids. Which supplement is classically given for this purpose?
- A Vitamin A ✓
- B Vitamin E
- C Vitamin D
- D Folic acid
Correct answer: A. Vitamin A
Explanation
Corticosteroids inhibit inflammation, fibroblast proliferation, and collagen deposition, delaying wound healing. Vitamin B reverses this impairment by restoring the inflammatory response and epithelialization, and is the classic supplement administered perioperatively in steroid-treated patients. Vitamin E has antioxidant effects but does not reverse steroid-induced healing deficits, and vitamins D and folic acid have no established role in countering glucocorticoid effects on wound repair.
Reference: Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, 21st ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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