CEA Nursing Practice Exam

A 43-year-old female with a platelet count of 80,000 is most likely diagnosed with which condition?

1. Thrombastemia

2. Pancytopenia

3. Thrombocytopenia

4. Thrombocytosis

The correct answer is: Thrombocytopenia

The patient's platelet count of 80,000 is indicative of thrombocytopenia, a condition characterized by an abnormally low level of platelets in the blood. Normal platelet counts typically range from 150,000 to 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood; therefore, a count of 80,000 is well below this range. Thrombocytopenia can be caused by various factors, including bone marrow disorders, increased destruction of platelets due to immune responses, or conditions that affect platelet production. It is important to recognize this condition, as it can lead to increased bleeding risk, which is a critical consideration in clinical care. In contrast, thrombocythemia (thrombastemia, which is not the standard term), and thrombocytosis refer to conditions where the platelet count is elevated above the normal range, which does not apply to this patient's situation. Pancytopenia involves a reduction in all three blood cell types: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, and is not solely indicated by the low platelet count presented here. Therefore, the most accurate diagnosis given the provided platelet count is thrombocytopenia.