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Clinical value of RBC count
Anemia, repeated serially in pts with ongoing bleeding
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What causes low RBC levels?
- Anemia
- Hemoglobinopathies
- Cirrhosis (chronic state of fluid overload, RBCs are diluted)
- Hemolytic anemias
- Hemorrhage
- Dietary deficiency (low iron, B12)
- Bone marrow failure
- Prosthetic valves (mechanical trauma)
- Renal disease (causes low EPO)
- Lymphoma, MM, Leukemia, Hodgkin
- Pregnancy (due to increased volume, there is dilution)
- Meds: chloramphenical, EPO, hydantoins, quinidine
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What causes an increase in RBC levels?
- Body's requirements for greater oxygen carrying capacity (high altitudes)
- Diseases that produce chronic hypoxia (congenital heart disease, COPD)
- P vera
- Drugs: gentamycin, methyldopa
- Severe dehydration (severe diarrhea or burns)
- Hemoglobinopathies
- Thalassemia
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What can alter RBC values?
- Dehydration (falsely high due to volume being low and RBCs being more concentrated)
- Overhydration (falsely low)
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Prothrombin time
9.4-12.0
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INR: high dose therapy
2.5-3.5
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Specific gravity
1.005-1.03
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