What Do My Lab Test Reports Indicate?

Posted on Tue, 3 Oct 2017

Question: Lab tests are ordered and the following results are obtained:

Serum hemoglobin: 4-5 g/microliter
Mean Corpuscular Volume: >120 microliters
Serum B12: <0.1 micrograms/mL
What is your initial diagnosis?Could it be megaloblastic anemia or a type of anemia? Trying to figure out before I get a response from you.

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (41 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Can you upload this entire report? The units seem off!

Detailed Answer:
HI,

I have reviewed these results. This is severe megaloblastic anemia. This is caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. Other cause for megaloblastic anemia is folic acid deficiency. However, the low folate levels make vitB12 deficiency the cause.

I wish you well. Feel free to follow up with me if have any further worries.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (45 minutes later)

next question: List the treatments that would likely be used for this condition:

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
MOre information needed!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

If the client can't tolerate the anemia, transfusion would be recommended using packed red cells.

Vitamin B12 supplementation if the problem is caused by low intake. If it is caused by gastritis/lack of intrinsic factor, special measures would be taken to address that.

I wish you well.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (4 minutes later)

When you say extraordinary measures what does that mean like surgery?

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (10 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Parenterally or providing intrinsic fator supplemements!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Because that will require administering using injections or administering intrinsic factor supplements concomitantly.

I wish you well.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (9 minutes later)

What are some nursing considerations for this condition?

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (49 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Monitoring for anemia!

Detailed Answer:
HI,

Monitoring for severe anemia: General state, pulse, fatigue, coloration of mucosa, hemoglobin, respiration, etc.

Counseling on diet would be helpful as well. Other care would depend on what the exact disease condition causing this is.

I wish you well.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (14 minutes later)

Thank you so much for your time and help. I appreciate it.

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You are welcome!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

You are welcome. I wish you well.

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar