Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 69%
Simulated
A nurse is reviewing the complete blood count results for a 4-year-old child who is receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the treatment is having a therapeutic effect?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The correct answer is C: RBC count 5/mm3 (4 to 5.5/mm3). In patients receiving treatment for leukemia, a decrease in the RBC count is expected due to the suppression of bone marrow activity by chemotherapy. A decrease in the RBC count can indicate that the treatment is working by targeting and reducing the abnormal leukemic cells. This is a positive therapeutic effect as it indicates that the treatment is effectively targeting the cancer cells.
A: Hemoglobin 6.8 g/dL - Low hemoglobin indicates anemia, which is a common side effect of leukemia treatment but does not specifically indicate therapeutic effect.
B: Platelet count 98,000/mm3 - Low platelet count is common in leukemia due to bone marrow suppression, but it does not directly indicate therapeutic effect.
D: WBC count 15,000/mm3 - Elevated WBC count is expected in leukemia and may not reflect therapeutic effect.
Therefore, the correct answer is C as
A: Hemoglobin 6.8 g/dL - Low hemoglobin indicates anemia, which is a common side effect of leukemia treatment but does not specifically indicate therapeutic effect.
B: Platelet count 98,000/mm3 - Low platelet count is common in leukemia due to bone marrow suppression, but it does not directly indicate therapeutic effect.
D: WBC count 15,000/mm3 - Elevated WBC count is expected in leukemia and may not reflect therapeutic effect.
Therefore, the correct answer is C as