Final answer:
In aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, or a reduced platelet count, is the expected laboratory finding. This condition often results in pancytopenia, including reductions in red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which is contrary to leukocytosis or neutrophilia that involve increased white cell counts, or thrombocythemia with increased platelets. The correct answer is option D .
Step-by-step explanation:
The laboratory finding typically associated with aplastic anemia is thrombocytopenia. Aplastic anemia is a condition where the body stops producing enough new blood cells, leading to a deficiency not just in red blood cells (which causes the anemia) but in all types of blood cells. Patients with aplastic anemia often inherit the condition, but it can also be acquired due to exposure to radiation, certain medications, chemotherapy, or infection.
Thrombocytopenia, the term for a reduced platelet count, occurs because the stem cells in the bone marrow that normally produce platelets are affected in aplastic anemia. Along with a reduced platelet count, individuals with aplastic anemia typically have pancytopenia, which includes a reduction in red blood cells (anemia), white blood cells (leukopenia), and platelets (thrombocytopenia). This reduction in cell counts leads to symptoms such as fatigue, increased susceptibility to infections, and bleeding tendencies.
Leukocytosis (a.), which refers to increased white blood cell count, and neutrophilia (c.), a subtype of leukocytosis where specifically neutrophils are elevated, are not typical features of aplastic anemia but are often seen in inflammatory conditions or infections. Thrombocythemia (b.), which indicates an elevated number of platelets, also would not be expected in aplastic anemia. The correct answer is d. thrombocytopenia.