The client with long-standing COPD has the following lab values. What is your interpreta-tion? WBC 11,500; Hct 57%; Hgb 22 g/dL; serum sodium 139 mEq/L
A. Dehydration is present as a result of rapid, shallow breathing.
B. Polycythemia is present as a result of compensation for hypoxemia.
C. Septicemia is present as a result of bronchitis and possible pneumonia.
D. Cor pulmonale is present as a result of increased pulmonary vascular resistance.
B
The WBC count is not high enough to indicate a significant infection. The hematocrit and he-moglobin are greatly elevated, but the serum sodium is not. Therefore, the most likely current problem is that the chronic hypoxemia stimulated the renal tissue to increase the secretion of erythropoietin, increasing the blood levels of red blood cells and hemoglobin above the normal level.
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