Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON) Practice Exam

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What is an expected finding on a blood smear of a patient with hereditary spherocytosis?

Presence of sickle cells

Excessive leukocytes

Spherocytes

In hereditary spherocytosis, an expected finding on a blood smear is the presence of spherocytes. These are abnormally shaped red blood cells that are smaller and rounder than typical red blood cells, lacking the normal biconcave disc shape. This abnormal shape arises due to a defect in the red blood cell membrane, which can lead to increased fragility and destruction in the spleen.

The presence of spherocytes is a key diagnostic indicator of hereditary spherocytosis. In contrast, the presence of sickle cells is associated with sickle cell disease and does not occur in hereditary spherocytosis. Excessive leukocytes would indicate a potential infection or inflammatory process and is not characteristic of hereditary spherocytosis. Similarly, immature lymphocytes would suggest a different pathology, such as a viral infection or malignancy, rather than the membrane defect seen in hereditary spherocytosis.

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Immature lymphocytes

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