Question

Mr. Brown is in renal failure. Her recent blood tests indicated a hematocrit of 22. Why is her hematocrit low? What can she be given to raise her hematocrit?

Thomas has hepatitis, which is disrupting his liver functions. What kinds of symptoms would he be experiencing based on the role(s) of the liver related to blood?

Shilpa has recently been on broad-spectrum antibiotics for a recurrent urinary bladder infection. While slicing vegetables, she cut herself and had difficulty stopping the bleeding. How could the antibiotics have played a role in her bleeding?

Answer 1

1) Hematocrit is a test that determines the proportion of red blood cells to that of whole blood components. Erythropoietin is the hormone that is produced by the kidneys that helps in the production of red blood cells/erythrocytes.

Mr. Brown is in renal failure. So, due to his kidney failure erythropoietin production will be less hence hematocrit will be low.

It can be raised by increasing the consumption of iron rich foods like red meat, milk, fish and shellfish, dried fruits etc

2) The symptoms of hepatitis are yellowish skin or eyes, nausea or vomiting, lack of appetite, dark urine, weakness or fatigue, bleeding or bruising etc.

The symptom that is based on the role of liver related to blood is bleeding or bruising. This is because liver helps in the production of proteins that are important of blood clotting factors like fibrinogen, prothrombin, fibrin stabilizing factor, thrombokinase etc.

3) Broad spectrum antibiotics may involve in bleeding and abnormal blood coagulation in various mechanisms

a) bone marrow suppression and aplasia that result thrombocytopenia - usually occur due to chloramphenicol

b) immunologic platelet destruction

c) inhibition of circulating platelet function

d) potentiation of effects of warfarin sodium (coumadin)

e) they may interrupt the vitamin K (anticoagulating vitamin) clotting related fatcors