USMLE Forum Archives - USMLE Step 2 CK - IM 25
IM 25
Brainlab - 12-11-06 09:58
A 70-year-old woman has been in long-standing poor health, with severe diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis. Her physician notes that she appears pale and orders a hematocrit, which shows a result of 35%. Examination of the blood smear reveals a microcytic anemia. The physician is considering a differential diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia versus anemia of chronic disease. Which of the following laboratory determinations would be most helpful in distinguishing these conditions?
A. Erythrocyte:granulocyte ratio in bone marrow
B. Presence or absence of polychromatophilic target cells
C. Presence or absence of stippled erythrocytes
D. Serum ferritin
E. Serum iron
Brainlab - 12-11-06 09:58
A 70-year-old woman has been in long-standing poor health, with severe diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis. Her physician notes that she appears pale and orders a hematocrit, which shows a result of 35%. Examination of the blood smear reveals a microcytic anemia. The physician is considering a differential diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia versus anemia of chronic disease. Which of the following laboratory determinations would be most helpful in distinguishing these conditions?
A. Erythrocyte:granulocyte ratio in bone marrow
B. Presence or absence of polychromatophilic target cells
C. Presence or absence of stippled erythrocytes
D. Serum ferritin
E. Serum iron
Page 1
#1
Re: IM 25 TheOne - 12-11-06 12:12 D
Iron deficiency anemia = low Serum ferritin.
Anemia of chronic disease = normal (or high) Serum ferritin.
#5
Re: IM 25 babbu5508 - 07-07-10 22:12 D. Serum ferritin
low serum ferritin would be found in iron deficiency anaemia but not anaemia of chronic disease....so diagnostic...
#6
Re: IM 25 bingousmle - 07-11-10 02:33 Serum ferritin is the most essential test to rely on for distinguishing between anemia of chronic disease and that due to iron deficiency
Page 1