Anemia & Vitamin Deficiencies
This condition occurs when the blood cannot carry enough oxygen to meet the body's needs because hemoglobin or red blood cell levels are too low.
What is anemia?
This inherited disorder causes red blood cells to become rigid and sickle-shaped under certain conditions, resulting in chronic hemolytic anemia.
What is sickle cell disease (SCD)?
A patient has isolated thrombocytopenia, petechiae, and bruising without evidence of another underlying cause. Which immune-mediated disorder is a likely diagnosis?
What is immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), formerly called idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura?
This life-threatening disorder causes widespread activation of coagulation, formation of small clots, and consumption of platelets and clotting factors.
What is disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)?
This group of cancers involves abnormal proliferation of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow and may cause anemia, infections, and bleeding.
What are leukemias?
A patient develops fever, chills, back pain, and hypotension shortly after a red blood cell transfusion begins. What is the nurse's first action?
What is to stop the transfusion immediately?
A patient has fatigue, pallor, microcytic red blood cells, and low ferritin. This type of anemia is most likely.
What is iron-deficiency anemia?
A patient with sickle cell disease reports severe pain in the back and extremities. What is this acute complication called?
What is a vaso-occlusive pain crisis?
A patient has thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, confusion, and renal abnormalities. Which hematologic emergency should be suspected?
What is thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)?
A patient with sepsis has bleeding from IV sites, a falling platelet count, prolonged PT/aPTT, and elevated D-dimer. Which complication is likely?
What is DIC?
This lymphoma is characterized by Reed–Sternberg cells in the appropriate clinical and pathologic context.
What is a classic Hodgkin lymphoma?
Which blood component is primarily used to increase oxygen-carrying capacity in a patient with clinically significant anemia?
What are packed red blood cells (PRBCs), or red blood cell components?
A patient has macrocytic anemia, numbness and tingling in the feet, and impaired balance. Which vitamin deficiency is the most likely cause?
What is vitamin B12 deficiency anemia?
A child with sickle cell disease develops fever, chest pain, cough, hypoxemia, and a new pulmonary infiltrate. Identify life-threatening complications.
What is acute chest syndrome?
A patient receiving unfractionated heparin develops a platelet count decrease of more than 50% and a new deep vein thrombosis. What complications are likely?
What is heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)?
In disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), why can a patient develop both bleeding and thrombosis?
What is consumption of platelets and clotting factors alongside widespread clot formation?
Unlike classic Hodgkin lymphoma, this broad group of lymphomas includes many distinct diseases that often lack Reed–Sternberg cells.
What are non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL)?
A child receiving a transfusion develops new crackles, respiratory distress, and hypoxemia. Which serious transfusion complications must be considered?
What are transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) and transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI), both of which must be considered?
A pregnant patient has macrocytic anemia caused by inadequate DNA synthesis, but no typical neurologic findings. Which vitamin deficiency is most likely?
What is folate-deficiency anemia?
Which disease-modifying medication increases fetal hemoglobin and can reduce sickling-related pain crises?
What is hydroxyurea?
A patient has suspected thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Which urgent treatment is generally required for acquired immune-mediated TTP?
What is urgent therapeutic plasma exchange, together with corticosteroid-based immunosuppression, for acquired immune-mediated TTP?
What is the most important initial management principle for DIC?
What is to identify and treat the underlying cause urgently?
A child presents with fatigue, recurrent infections, bruising, bone pain, and circulating lymphoblasts. Which major category of leukemia should be considered?
What is acute leukemia, particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)?
Why must pediatric blood transfusion volumes be carefully calculated using the child's weight and prescribed dose?
Why is weight-based dosing essential in pediatric transfusions?
A patient with suspected vitamin B12 deficiency is being evaluated. Which laboratory test can help distinguish B12 deficiency from folate deficiency when both have elevated mean corpuscular volume (MCV)?
What is the serum methylmalonic acid (MMA) level?
A child with sickle cell disease develops sudden severe pallor, weakness, tachycardia, and an enlarged spleen. What acute complications should be suspected?
What is splenic sequestration?
A patient has suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). What is the immediate medication management priority?
What is to stop all heparin exposure and initiate an appropriate non-heparin anticoagulant when HIT is sufficiently suspected?
A patient with suspected DIC has a very low fibrinogen level and active bleeding. Which blood components may be considered to support hemostasis, depending on laboratory findings and the clinical situation?
What is cryoprecipitate or fibrinogen concentrate for low fibrinogen, platelets or fresh frozen plasma when indicated?
A patient with a large mediastinal mass develops facial swelling, neck-vein distention, and shortness of breath when lying flat. What oncologic emergencies must be assessed?
What is superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, potentially caused by mediastinal tumor compression?
A patient with sickle cell disease requires a red blood cell transfusion. Besides ABO and Rh compatibility, what additional blood-matching consideration is particularly important?
What is extended red blood cell antigen matching, particularly for Rh variants and Kell antigens, guided by transfusion history and antibody testing?