Drug-Induced Gingival Overgrowth — ORE Part 1 MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

EasyPeriodontologyDrug-Induced Gingival OvergrowthORE Part 1

A 70-year-old man takes amlodipine 10 mg daily for hypertension and presents with generalised gingival overgrowth. Which medication is most likely responsible?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: A — Amlodipine

Explanation lettering: E = shown as B · B = shown as C · C = shown as D · D = shown as E

The correct answer is A (amlodipine). Amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker, is a well-recognised cause of drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO), particularly at doses of 10 mg/day, typically manifesting within 3 months of initiation. The incidence is approximately 1.7% of patients taking amlodipine. The three main drug classes associated with DIGO are anticonvulsants, calcium channel blockers, and immunosuppressants. Options B (ramipril, an ACE inhibitor), C (atenolol, a beta-blocker), D (bendroflumethiazide, a thiazide), and E (losartan, an ARB) are not associated with gingival overgrowth. The clinical presentation—generalised gingival enlargement in a patient taking amlodipine—is pathognomonic for amlodipine-induced DIGO. In susceptible individuals, discontinuation or dose reduction of amlodipine typically leads to resolution of overgrowth, though this must be balanced against blood pressure control.

Reference: Garg V, Kaur G, Singh J. Drug-Induced Gum Overgrowth With Low-Dose Amlodipine: A Case Report. Cureus. 2022;14(7):e27106. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9217670/