The nurse practitioner is reviewing the chart of an 18-year-old female patient with a BMI of 18 who presented with fatigue and pale skin. Of the following lab values, which would be true in a case of iron deficiency anemia?
Decreased MCV and an increased RDW
Decreased MCV and a decreased RDW
Increased MCV and an increased RDW
Decreased MCV and an increased MCHC
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: Iron deficiency anemia is classically microcytic and hypochromic, meaning the red blood cells are smaller than normal (decreased MCV) and have reduced hemoglobin content. Additionally, RDW is increased due to anisocytosis, which reflects a wide variation in red blood cell sizes as the bone marrow releases immature cells in response to iron deficiency. This pattern is one of the earliest and most consistent hematologic findings in iron deficiency anemia.
Choice B reason: A decreased RDW is not typical in iron deficiency anemia. RDW tends to rise as the body attempts to compensate for anemia by producing red blood cells of varying sizes. A low RDW would suggest a more uniform population of red cells, which is not characteristic of iron deficiency.
Choice C reason: Increased MCV is seen in macrocytic anemias such as those caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency. Iron deficiency anemia is microcytic, not macrocytic, and therefore MCV would be decreased, not increased.
Choice D reason: MCHC is typically decreased in iron deficiency anemia due to the reduced hemoglobin concentration in red blood cells. An increased MCHC would suggest hyperchromic anemia, which is not consistent with iron deficiency.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: The overall incidence of schizophrenia is slightly higher in men than in women. Men tend to have an earlier onset and more severe course, while women often have a later onset and better social functioning.
Choice B reason: Women are more likely to experience a second peak of schizophrenia onset after age 40, often associated with hormonal changes such as menopause. This late-onset pattern is less common in men, making this statement accurate.
Choice C reason: Women may experience fewer negative symptoms and better social outcomes, but psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions can be equally present. The course of psychosis is not necessarily milder in women.
Choice D reason: While women may respond better to treatment and have better social functioning, the frequency of psychotic symptoms does not consistently decrease more than in men. Symptom trajectory varies individually.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Blurred vision is the hallmark early symptom of cataract formation. It results from the clouding of the lens, which scatters light and reduces visual clarity. Patients often describe difficulty reading, glare sensitivity, and needing more light for tasks.
Choice B reason: Headache is not a typical symptom of cataracts. It may occur with other ocular conditions like glaucoma or refractive errors but is not a primary indicator of lens opacity.
Choice C reason: Floaters are associated with vitreous degeneration or retinal detachment, not cataracts. They appear as spots or threads in the visual field and are unrelated to lens changes.
Choice D reason: Eye strain may occur with uncorrected refractive errors or prolonged screen use but is not a defining feature of cataracts. It lacks the specificity and diagnostic relevance of blurred vision.
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