Question

As with any inflammatory disease clients with rheumatoid arthritis have a low-_________.

a) White blood cell count
b) Iron level
c) Platelet count
d) pH level

Answer 1

Clients with rheumatoid arthritis have alterations in blood components due to chronic inflammation, but the disease does not typically present with a low white cell count, though treatment medications can cause this.

Step-by-step explanation:

Clients with rheumatoid arthritis often have systemic effects including alterations in blood components due to chronic inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation in the joints and increased production of inflammatory cytokines like IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α. These contribute to the release of acute phase proteins like C-reactive protein (CRP) and can affect blood cell counts. However, in contrast to what might be suggested by the references to colchicine and mitosis, rheumatoid arthritis itself does not typically present with a low white cell count, though certain medications used to treat it may lead to such a condition.