NURS 6501: Final Exam Question 73 / NURS-6501N Advanced Pathophysiology Tags NURS 6501: Final Exam, NURS 6501: Week 1 Discussion Question, NURS 6501: Week 2 Assignment, NURS 6501: Week 3 Assignment, NURS 6501: Week 4 Assignment, NURS 6501: Week 5 Quiz, NURS 6501: Week 6 Midterm Exam, NURS 6501: Week 7 Assignment, NURS 6501: Week 7 Quiz, NURS 6501: Week 8 Assignment, NURS 6501: Week 9 Assignment, NURS 6501: Week 10 Assignment 1, NURS 6501: Final Exam: Please contact Your Favorite Professor for help with NURS 6501: Final Exam or any other assignment. Email: professorrobertphd@gmail.com An older adult patient, who was recently started on heparin therapy for deep vein thrombosis, exhibits a notable decrease in platelet count. This suggests the development of an adverse condition characterized by the formation of autoantibodies against platelet factor 4 (PF4) complexed with heparin. Besides thrombocytopenia, what other clinical manifestation is typical of this condition? Group of answer choices • Anemia • Renal impairment • Hypertension • Thrombosis The correct answer is: Thrombosis Explanation: This patient is likely developing heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), a rare but serious complication of heparin therapy. In HIT, autoantibodies form against the platelet factor 4 (PF4) complexed with heparin, leading to platelet activation, thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), and paradoxically, thrombosis (blood clots). The formation of these clots can occur in veins or arteries and can lead to complications such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or stroke. Here’s why the other options are incorrect: Anemia: While anemia can result from bleeding complications, it is not a primary feature of HIT. Renal impairment: While renal impairment can occur in severe cases of HIT (due to complications like thrombotic microangiopathy), it is not as typical as thrombosis. Hypertension: Hypertension is not a direct or common consequence of HIT. Thus, the typical clinical manifestation of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), besides thrombocytopenia, is thrombosis.
