A 60-year-old man presented with complaints of fatigue, headaches, and itching. Physical examination revealed a ruddy complexion and splenomegaly. Laboratory tests showed an elevated hematocrit, hemoglobin, and red blood cell count. A bone marrow biopsy confirmed polycythemia vera, a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by overproduction of red blood cells. Of the following, which is the most common complication and major cause of morbidity in patients with polycythemia vera?
A 25-year-old woman presented with fatigue, shortness of breath, and easy bruising. Her complete blood count revealed pancytopenia, characterized by a significant decrease in red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. A bone marrow biopsy confirmed severe hypocellularity, consistent with aplastic anemia. Further investigations, including viral serology, revealed a recent viral infection that can cause transient bone marrow suppression in immunocompetent individuals. Which of the following viruses can cause aplastic anemia?
A 26 year-old woman presents to your office and reports feeling usually weak and tired, having trouble concentrating, shortness of breath, especially with activity, pounding sensation in the ears, easy bruising from minor injuries and even brushing her teeth, frequent nosebleeds, heavy menstrual periods, and tiny red spots on her arms. Her past medical history is significant for three urinary tract infections in the last four months. She has no prior exposure to chemicals and reports no drug use. In physical examination, you notice a well-built, well dressed woman with no distress. She has pallor of conjunctiva, the skin and mucous membranes. There are petechiae and ecchymosis on both arms. She has resting tachycardia. You did not notice lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. Suspecting a blood disorder, you ordered some laboratory tests. The results are as follows. Laboratory results: Neutrophil count: 498//μL; platelet count 19700/μL; hemoglobin 8.2 g/dl; corrected reticulocyte count 0.9% blood smear showed large erythrocytes with increased mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Paucity of platelets and granulocytes. No reticulocytes. Normal lymphocytes. Bone marrow biopsy: readily aspirated, mainly fatty biopsy specimen, markedly hypocellular devoid of marrow progenitors Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A 19 year-old female arrives in your office to start her treatment on hydroxyurea for the management of sickle cell disease. Which of the following tests is indicated before you start her on hydroxyurea?
You are going to start a patient on the medication hydroxyurea for a long standing disorder. Which of the following statements is true regarding hydroxyurea?
An African American couple brings their 1 month-old baby girl for the establishment of care in your practice. They report that they are deeply disturbed because their baby girl is found to have sickle cell disorder with hemoglobin SS type. In order to provide the best healthcare possible for their daughter, they would like to have some information on prevention and treatment of sickle cell disease complications. Regarding the preventive and treatment strategies available for patients with sickle cell disease, which of the following statements is true?
