Final answer:
Neutropenia indicates a potential complication in a client with aplastic anemia because it can signify a heightened risk of infection. Elevated hemoglobin and increased platelet count are not typical findings in aplastic anemia. Reticulocyte count within the normal range is a typical finding and does not indicate a complication.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse reviewing the laboratory results of a client with aplastic anemia would consider neutropenia as an indication of a potential complication. Aplastic anemia is characterized by a deficiency in the number of red blood cell (RBC) stem cells, which can be triggered by radiation, medication, chemotherapy, or infection. This condition can lead to reduced numbers of RBCs, resulting in lower levels of oxygen being delivered to body tissues, causing fatigue, lethargy, and an increased risk for infection, among other symptoms.
Elevated hemoglobin levels and an increased platelet count are not typically associated with aplastic anemia, which often shows reduced production of those components. A reticulocyte count within the expected range might also be considered normal, not signaling a complication. In contrast, neutropenia, which is a decrease in the number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, could signal an increased risk of infection, and thus be seen as a potential complication of aplastic anemia.