CLINICAL CONSULATION

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CLINICAL CONSULATION

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Sea_gull
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Topics: 32
Posts: 179

09/02/06 - 11:17 AM

A 15 month old white male has a Hct of 38% RBC of 5.2x 10^6and MCV of 73fL. Iron studies are within the reference range.The clinician wants to perform a Hb electrophoresis to explore a diagnosis of thalassemia.You reply:

-------------------------------- ?????

GL

frank100
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Topics: 48
Posts: 586

09/02/06 - 11:30 AM

peripheral blood smear is a better lab.

maybe more history on diet...irondeficiency is microcytic hypochromic also...maybe mommy is using cowmilk...

jumping straight to electrophoresis would be an expensive mistake...

labs are important, but need more history

epidemiologically this baby is iron deficient until proven otherwise...

frank100
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Topics: 48
Posts: 586

09/02/06 - 11:33 AM

CBD with normal iron studies.....don´t go toghether....maybe some weird anemia....confused....but still agree with me...

Sea_gull
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Topics: 32
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09/03/06 - 07:05 AM

frank100 wrote:
CBD with normal iron studies.....don´t go toghether....maybe some weird anemia....confused....but still agree with me...

These values are normal for a child of this age.

White child is unlikely to suffer from Thalassemia.

GL

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