A 32-year-old woman comes to the office with worsening shortness of breath. She has the following arterial blood results: Which of the following is the most likely cause of these results?

Question

A 32-year-old woman comes to the office with worsening shortness of breath.  She has the following arterial blood results:  Which of the following is the most likely cause of these results?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: The 3 variables that affect the total oxygen content of blood are hemoglobin concentration, oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SaO₂), and the partial pressure of oxygen dissolved in blood (PaO₂). Anemia is characterized by decreased hemoglobin concentration in the setting of normal SaO₂ and PaO₂.

A 32-Year-Old Woman Comes to the Office with Worsening Shortness