A 24-Year-Old Woman Has a Low Platelet Count on Routine

question 408

Multiple Choice

A 24-year-old woman has a low platelet count on routine blood work.  She denies bleeding, fever, chills, weight loss, bone pain, or abdominal pain.  Her past medical history is unremarkable and she does not take any medications.  She does not use tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs.  She is sexually active.
Complete physical examination is within normal limits.
Laboratory results are as follows:

Blood smear shows a paucity of platelets but is otherwise unremarkable.  Pregnancy test is negative.
Which of the following is the best next step in managing this patient?

• A)Antinuclear antibodies
• B)Flow cytometry of the peripheral blood
• C)HIV testing
• D)No further work-up
• E)Serum protein electrophoresis

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Definitions:

Differentiation

The process by which cells become specialized in structure and function, acquiring characteristics distinct from the original cell type as they develop into various tissues and organs.

Gene Activity

The process by which the information encoded in genes is converted into products like proteins or RNA, influencing an organism's characteristics.

Identical Twins

Twins resulting from the splitting of a single fertilized egg, sharing the same genetic material and typically having very similar appearances and biological characteristics.

Totipotent

A term describing a cell or nucleus that contains the complete set of genetic instructions required to direct the normal development of an entire organism. Compare with pluripotent.