Question

The nurse is reviewing the laboratory results for a client with cancer who is being treated with chemotherapy and recently started prescribed filgrastim. Which laboratory value indicates the treatment is effective?

Hemoglobin level of 9.8 g/dL

White blood cell count (WBC) of 5,200/mm3

Platelet count of 200,000/mm3

Red blood cell count (RBC) of 4 million/mm3

Answer 1

The laboratory value that indicates the effectiveness of the treatment is the White blood cell count (WBC) of 5,200/mm3. Chemotherapy can cause a decrease in white blood cell count, but the prescribed medication filgrastim stimulates the production of white blood cells to prevent leukocyte destruction. A normal white blood cell count is between 4,500 and 11,000/mm3, so a count of 5,200/mm3 falls within the normal range.

Step-by-step explanation:

The laboratory value that indicates the effectiveness of the treatment is the White blood cell count (WBC) of 5,200/mm3.

Chemotherapy can cause a decrease in white blood cell count, which can lead to an increased risk of infection. Filgrastim is a medication that stimulates the production of white blood cells in the bone marrow. Therefore, an increase in the white blood cell count indicates that the treatment is effective in preventing leukocyte destruction caused by chemotherapy.

A normal white blood cell count is typically between 4,500 and 11,000/mm3, so a WBC count of 5,200/mm3 falls within the normal range.