Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle Cell Disease ( 15 Questions)

A client with SCD has an elevated serum ferritin level.
What is the significance of an elevated serum ferritin level in a patient with SCD?


Correct Answer: C

Choice C rationale:

An elevated serum ferritin level in a patient with sickle cell disease (SCD) may signal iron overload.

Iron overload is a potential complication of chronic blood transfusions, which are often required in SCD to treat anemia and prevent complications.

Excessive iron accumulation can lead to organ damage, particularly in the liver, heart, and endocrine glands.

Monitoring and managing iron levels, including serum ferritin, are essential in SCD patients who receive regular transfusions.

Choice A rationale:

An elevated serum ferritin level does not indicate adequate iron stores.

In fact, it suggests the opposite, as it implies an excess of stored iron in the body.

Choice B rationale:

An elevated serum ferritin level is not indicative of iron deficiency anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia is characterized by low serum ferritin levels, as ferritin stores are depleted in this condition.

Choice D rationale:

An elevated serum ferritin level does not reflect normal hemoglobin levels.

Ferritin is a marker of iron storage and does not directly indicate the hemoglobin level, which measures the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells.

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