A cancer patient has developed anemia as a result of chemotherapy and is receiving treatment for the anemia.The health-care provider would like to evaluate the effectiveness of this common treatment for anemia.Which test would be most appropriate for this purpose?
A)Free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP)
B)Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
C)Erythropoietin (EPO)
D)Eosinophil count

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most appropriate test to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for anemia is to measure the levels of erythropoietin (EPO). EPO is a hormone produced by the kidneys that stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. In anemia, there may be a deficiency of EPO, which can be corrected by giving synthetic EPO as treatment. Monitoring the EPO levels can help determine the effectiveness of the treatment. FEP is a test for lead poisoning and is not related to anemia or its treatment. ESR is a nonspecific test for inflammation and is not specific for anemia or its treatment. Eosinophil count is a test for allergic or parasitic conditions and is not related to anemia or its treatment.

A Cancer Patient Has Developed Anemia as a Result of Chemotherapy