Question

Mrs brown is in renal failure. Her recent blood tests indicated a hematocrit of 22. Why is her hematocrit low? WHat can she be given to raise her Hematocrit?

Answer 1

Mrs. Brown's low hematocrit is linked to her renal failure, likely due to insufficient production of erythropoietin. Synthetic erythropoietin and iron supplements are treatments that can raise her hematocrit.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mrs. Brown's low hematocrit can be attributed to her renal failure. Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells (RBCs) in the blood, and a normal level for women is about 36-48%. A hematocrit of 22 indicates a significant drop in the number of RBCs, which is a condition known as anemia. In the case of renal failure, this anemia can be caused by inadequate production of erythropoietin, a hormone produced by the kidneys that is essential for the production of red blood cells.

To raise Mrs. Brown's hematocrit, treatment typically involves synthetic erythropoietin injections and iron supplements. These treatments help stimulate the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells, thus increasing the hematocrit level. Monitoring and managing underlying conditions that affect kidney function and RBC production are also crucial.