Question

The healthcare provider is caring for a patient who reports increasing fatigue over the past 4 months. The patient has no significant past medical history and takes no daily medications. A complete blood count was ordered. What do these results tell the healthcare provider about the patient?

♦ Hemoglobin 10
♦ Hematocrit 29
♦ Decreased mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
♦ Decreased mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)

Choose all answers that apply:

A. The patient is deficient in B vitamins.
B. Tissue oxygenation is impaired.
C. Red blood cells are small and pale.
D. The patient is deficient in iron.
E. Red blood cell function is normal.
F. Red blood cells are large and of various shapes

Answer 1

The blood test results indicate that the patient has microcytic, hypochromic anemia, which is commonly caused by iron deficiency. This results in impaired tissue oxygenation and small, pale red blood cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

The blood test results indicate that the patient has anemia. Anemia is a condition characterized by a deficiency in red blood cells or hemoglobin. The hemoglobin level of 10 and hematocrit level of 29 suggest a decrease in the amount of oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

The decreased mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and decreased mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) indicate that the red blood cells are small and pale, a condition known as microcytic, hypochromic anemia. This type of anemia is commonly caused by iron deficiency.

Therefore, based on the blood test results, the options that apply are:

• B. Tissue oxygenation is impaired. The decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels indicate a reduced capacity for oxygen transport.
• C. Red blood cells are small and pale. The decreased MCV and MCHC indicate microcytic, hypochromic anemia.
• D. The patient is deficient in iron. Microcytic, hypochromic anemia is commonly caused by iron deficiency.