NM 703 Exam 1 Questions and Answers Latest Update 2025-2026
What are 3 mechanisms you should think about with anemia? - Answers (1) production of RBCs
(2) destruction of RBCs (3) blood loss
What are the 3 types of lab values you want to look at with anemia? - Answers (1) CBC (2) red
blood cell indices (3) iron indices
What do you look for CBC to determine anemia? - Answers Hgb & Hct
What is a normal Hgb level for adult men? - Answers 13.5-17.5
What is a normal Hgb level for women? - Answers 12.0 to 15.5
What is normal Hct level for adult men? - Answers 38.8-50
What is a normal Hct level for women? - Answers 34.9-44.5
What do you look for in rbc indices to determine anemia? - Answers (1) MCV (2) reticulocyte
count
What do you look for in iron indices to determine anemia? - Answers (1) ferratin (2) TIBC (3)
serum iron
If MCV is less than 80, what kind of anemia is it? - Answers Microcytic
What is an example microcytic anemia? - Answers (1) IDA (2) thalassemia (3)
Anyone who fails first line treatment should do what? - Answers Be referred out
If a patient needs serum iron replacement or blood transfusion, what should you do? - Answers
Refer patient out
Should you treat a patient with thalassemia with iron? - Answers No
What is an example of normocytic anemia? - Answers Anemia of chronic disease
What are some reasons someone might have anemia of chronic disease? - Answers (1)
autoimmune disorders (2) chronic kidney disease (3) cancer
What is the treatment of normocytic anemia? - Answers Treat the underlying problem
What are common complaints related to IDA? - Answers (1) fatigue (2) decreased exercise
tolerance (3) palpitations (4) irritability (5) headaches (6) paresthesias (7) sore tongue (8) brittle
nails (9) spoon-shaped nails (10) pica for starch, clay, ice
What might you find on physical examination with IDA? - Answers (1) tachycardia (2) forceful
apical pulse (3) palmar creases (4) pallor
, What do iron labs show for IDA? - Answers (1) low serum iron (2) decrease serum ferritin (3)
increased TIBC (4) decreased percentage of transferrin saturation
What is a cause of macrocytic anemia? - Answers B12 or folate deficiency (megaloblastic
anemia)
With IDA, what should be suspected unless proven otherwise? - Answers GI bleeding
Older adults with IDA should be check for what else? - Answers (1) GI cancers (2) GI bleeding
What are 5 differential diagnoses for microcytic anemia? - Answers (1) IDA (2) thalassemia (3)
ACD (4) sideroblastic anemia (5) lead poisoning, aluminum toxicity
What is the initial treatment of iron deficiency anemia? - Answers Oral iron (150 to 200 mg per
day)
What are common side effects of iron supplementation? - Answers (1) black stools (2)
constipation (3) nausea (4) diarrhea (5) heartburn (6) GI discomfort
What happens when iron is taken with meals? - Answers Decreases absorption 40 to 50%
What can you do to increase compliance with iron supplementation? - Answers Divided doses,
start with one pill and gradually increase amount
With iron supplementation, when will you see changes in hgb? - Answers 1 to 2 weeks
With iron supplementation, when will you see changes in MCV? - Answers 1 to 2 months
What are complications of IDA in pregnancy? - Answers (1) preterm delivery (2) low birth weight
(3) learning deficits
What are reasons to refer IDA patient to hematologists? - Answers (1) nonadherence to iron
supplementation or intolerance (2) persistent IDA that needs parenteral replacement (3)
persistent microcytic anemia
Education for iron replacement should include that a patient should take iron supplements when?
- Answers 30 minutes before meals
What foods can interfere with iron absorption? - Answers (1) tea (2) coffee (3) chocolate (4)
dairy products (5) alcohol (6) high fiber foods
What regions is alpha thalassemia normally found? - Answers (1) southeast asia (2) china (3)
india (4) phillipines
What regions is beta thalassemia normally found? - Answers (1) Mediterranean (2) middle east
(3) African or Asian descent
Does thalassemia affect males and females equally? - Answers Yes
What are 3 mechanisms you should think about with anemia? - Answers (1) production of RBCs
(2) destruction of RBCs (3) blood loss
What are the 3 types of lab values you want to look at with anemia? - Answers (1) CBC (2) red
blood cell indices (3) iron indices
What do you look for CBC to determine anemia? - Answers Hgb & Hct
What is a normal Hgb level for adult men? - Answers 13.5-17.5
What is a normal Hgb level for women? - Answers 12.0 to 15.5
What is normal Hct level for adult men? - Answers 38.8-50
What is a normal Hct level for women? - Answers 34.9-44.5
What do you look for in rbc indices to determine anemia? - Answers (1) MCV (2) reticulocyte
count
What do you look for in iron indices to determine anemia? - Answers (1) ferratin (2) TIBC (3)
serum iron
If MCV is less than 80, what kind of anemia is it? - Answers Microcytic
What is an example microcytic anemia? - Answers (1) IDA (2) thalassemia (3)
Anyone who fails first line treatment should do what? - Answers Be referred out
If a patient needs serum iron replacement or blood transfusion, what should you do? - Answers
Refer patient out
Should you treat a patient with thalassemia with iron? - Answers No
What is an example of normocytic anemia? - Answers Anemia of chronic disease
What are some reasons someone might have anemia of chronic disease? - Answers (1)
autoimmune disorders (2) chronic kidney disease (3) cancer
What is the treatment of normocytic anemia? - Answers Treat the underlying problem
What are common complaints related to IDA? - Answers (1) fatigue (2) decreased exercise
tolerance (3) palpitations (4) irritability (5) headaches (6) paresthesias (7) sore tongue (8) brittle
nails (9) spoon-shaped nails (10) pica for starch, clay, ice
What might you find on physical examination with IDA? - Answers (1) tachycardia (2) forceful
apical pulse (3) palmar creases (4) pallor
, What do iron labs show for IDA? - Answers (1) low serum iron (2) decrease serum ferritin (3)
increased TIBC (4) decreased percentage of transferrin saturation
What is a cause of macrocytic anemia? - Answers B12 or folate deficiency (megaloblastic
anemia)
With IDA, what should be suspected unless proven otherwise? - Answers GI bleeding
Older adults with IDA should be check for what else? - Answers (1) GI cancers (2) GI bleeding
What are 5 differential diagnoses for microcytic anemia? - Answers (1) IDA (2) thalassemia (3)
ACD (4) sideroblastic anemia (5) lead poisoning, aluminum toxicity
What is the initial treatment of iron deficiency anemia? - Answers Oral iron (150 to 200 mg per
day)
What are common side effects of iron supplementation? - Answers (1) black stools (2)
constipation (3) nausea (4) diarrhea (5) heartburn (6) GI discomfort
What happens when iron is taken with meals? - Answers Decreases absorption 40 to 50%
What can you do to increase compliance with iron supplementation? - Answers Divided doses,
start with one pill and gradually increase amount
With iron supplementation, when will you see changes in hgb? - Answers 1 to 2 weeks
With iron supplementation, when will you see changes in MCV? - Answers 1 to 2 months
What are complications of IDA in pregnancy? - Answers (1) preterm delivery (2) low birth weight
(3) learning deficits
What are reasons to refer IDA patient to hematologists? - Answers (1) nonadherence to iron
supplementation or intolerance (2) persistent IDA that needs parenteral replacement (3)
persistent microcytic anemia
Education for iron replacement should include that a patient should take iron supplements when?
- Answers 30 minutes before meals
What foods can interfere with iron absorption? - Answers (1) tea (2) coffee (3) chocolate (4)
dairy products (5) alcohol (6) high fiber foods
What regions is alpha thalassemia normally found? - Answers (1) southeast asia (2) china (3)
india (4) phillipines
What regions is beta thalassemia normally found? - Answers (1) Mediterranean (2) middle east
(3) African or Asian descent
Does thalassemia affect males and females equally? - Answers Yes
