Hematocrit Case Study Answers

1. Hct – Hematocrit, also called packed-cell volume (PCV), is the proportion of the total blood volume that is composed of red blood cells, or erythrocytes, that transport oxygen throughout the body

Normal : 38.8 to 50% (men), 34.9 to 44.5% (women) Low = A lower than normal hematocrit may indicate:

• An insufficient supply of healthy red blood cells (anemia)

• Vitamin or mineral deficiencies

• Recent or long-term blood loss

High = A higher than normal hematocrit may indicate:

• Dehydration

• A disorder, such as polycythemia vera, that causes your body to produce too many red blood cells

• Lung or heart disease — if the body senses low oxygen levels, it will make more red blood cells in an effort to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood

Deficiencies are typically seen with:

• Low dietary intake (seen in the elderly, malnourished, and with alcoholism)

• Gastrointestinal disorders (such as Crohn's disease)

• Uncontrolled diabetes

• Hypoparathyroidism

• Long-term diuretic use

• Prolonged diarrhea

• Post surgery

• Severe burns

• Toxemia of pregnancy

• Drugs that can decrease magnesium levels include digoxin, cyclosporine, diuretics, insulin, some antibiotics, laxatives, and phenytoin.

High - Increased blood levels of magnesium are rarely due to dietary sources but are usually the result of an excretion problem or excessive supplementation. Increased levels are seen in:

• Kidney failure

• Hyperparathyroidism

• Hypothyroidism

• Dehydration

• Diabetic acidosis (when first seen)

• Addison disease

• Rich magnesium sources include: spinach, nuts, seeds, beans

• Tap water may also contain magnesium.

• Use of magnesium-containing antacids or laxatives

• Drugs that can increase magnesium levels include lithium, aspirin, thyroid medication, some antibiotics, and products that contain

Low levels may indicate

• kidney disease caused by a direct trauma to the kidneys such as bleeding.

9. SGOT: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme found in liver and cardiac cells and to lesser degrees in skeletal muscle, renal tissue, red blood cells and the brain. Injury to cells releases AST into the blood, and may be caused by hepatotoxins (eg, alcohol, drugs), hemolysis, myopathy or ischemia.

Normal: 0 – 35 units/L

Uses: to screen for liver disease in high risk situation (obesity, hepatotoxic medication, exposure to viral hepatitis.); evaluation of symptoms suggestive of liver dysfunction (URQ pain, pruritis, nausea); detect damage to hepatocytes; former test to diagnose and follow acute MI

Decreased levels: uremia, vitamin B6 deficiency, certain medications (allopurinol, cyclosporine, progesterone).

Increased levels: cirrhosis, MI, skeletal muscle damage, alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatice ductal blockage, chronic hepatitis B and C, ischemic damage, pregnancy, third degree burns, seizure activity.

10. Troponin I: cardiac marker Normal: <0.03ng/ml

Uses: myocardial infarction, diagnosis of ACS (acute coronary syndrome), perioperative MI, documents coronay reperfusion in patients receiving thrombolytic