A male patient complains of physical weakness and fatigue.A blood test shows his hematocrit to be 30%.Which of the following diagnoses is the least likely to explain his symptoms?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lung disease is the least likely to directly cause a low hematocrit level. Hematocrit measures the proportion of red blood cells in the blood, and while lung disease can affect oxygenation and indirectly influence red blood cell production, the other options (internal bleeding, dietary deficiencies of iron and vitamin B12, and kidney disease) have more direct relationships with red blood cell production or loss, affecting hematocrit levels more directly.

A Male Patient Complains of Physical Weakness and Fatigue