A 23-year-old woman has noticed that she develops a skin rash if she spends prolonged periods outdoors. She has a malar skin rash on physical examination. Laboratory studies include a positive ANA test result with a titer of 1 :1024 and a “rim” pattern. An anti-double-stranded DNA test result also is positive. The hemoglobin concentration is 12.1 g/dL, hematocrit is 35.5%, MCV is 89 mm3, platelet count is 109,000/mm3, and WBC count is 4500/mm3. Which of the following findings is most likely to be shown by a WBC differential count?
A 23-year-old woman has noticed that she develops a skin rash if she spends prolonged periods outdoors. She has a malar skin rash on physical examination. Laboratory studies include a positive ANA test result with a titer of 1 :1024 and a “rim” pattern. An anti-double-stranded DNA test result also is positive. The hemoglobin concentration is 12.1 g/dL, hematocrit is 35.5%, MCV is 89 mm3, platelet count is 109,000/mm3, and WBC count is 4500/mm3. Which of the following findings is most likely to be shown by a WBC differential count?
π‘ Explanation
**Core Concept**
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and various clinical manifestations, including a malar skin rash, renal involvement, and hematologic abnormalities.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The presence of a positive ANA test result with a high titer and a "rim" pattern, along with a positive anti-double-stranded DNA test result, is highly suggestive of SLE. In SLE, patients often develop a leukopenia, characterized by a decrease in the total white blood cell (WBC) count. However, the WBC differential count typically shows an increase in the number of monocytes, which is a hallmark of SLE. This phenomenon is thought to be due to the autoimmune nature of the disease, which affects the bone marrow's ability to produce normal WBCs, leading to an increase in monocytes as a result of their longer lifespan compared to other WBCs.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** Basophilia is not typically associated with SLE and is more commonly seen in conditions such as chronic myeloid leukemia or hypereosinophilic syndrome.
**Option B:** Eosinophilia is not a characteristic finding in SLE and is more commonly seen in conditions such as parasites or allergic reactions.
**Option D:** Neutrophilia is not typically seen in SLE, as the disease is characterized by a leukopenia, which includes a decrease in the number of neutrophils.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
In SLE, the presence of a positive ANA test result with a high titer is highly suggestive of the disease, but it is essential to consider other clinical and laboratory findings to confirm the diagnosis.
β Correct Answer: C. Monocytosis
β Correct Answer: C. Monocytosis
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