Final answer:
In a patient with Thalassemia minor, the nurse practitioner would expect the serum ferritin and iron levels to be high. Thalassemia is a genetic disorder characterized by abnormal synthesis of globin proteins and excessive destruction of erythrocytes. Monitoring ferritin and iron levels is important to assess iron overload.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a patient with diagnosed Thalassemia minor, the nurse practitioner would expect the serum ferritin and iron levels to be high. Thalassemia is a genetic disorder characterized by abnormal synthesis of globin proteins and excessive destruction of erythrocytes. As a result, the body tries to compensate for the loss of red blood cells by increasing iron absorption and storage, leading to elevated ferritin and iron levels.
Furthermore, iron deficiency anemia is not a characteristic of Thalassemia. Iron deficiency anemia is defined by low hemoglobin levels, but Thalassemia typically presents with normal to high levels of hemoglobin.
It's important for healthcare providers to monitor ferritin and iron levels in Thalassemia patients to assess iron overload and make appropriate treatment decisions.