What laboratory finding may be present due to ongoing rectal bleeding in ulcerative colitis?

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Multiple Choice

What laboratory finding may be present due to ongoing rectal bleeding in ulcerative colitis?

Explanation:
Ongoing rectal bleeding from ulcerative colitis can cause iron deficiency anemia because blood loss removes iron from the body. The most likely laboratory finding is a decreased hemoglobin concentration, reflecting reduced red blood cell mass from iron depletion. Hematocrit often follows suit and is also reduced, since it roughly tracks hemoglobin. While active inflammation in ulcerative colitis can raise the white blood cell count, that change is related to inflammation rather than bleeding itself. So, the hallmark finding tied to bleeding in this scenario is low hemoglobin.

Ongoing rectal bleeding from ulcerative colitis can cause iron deficiency anemia because blood loss removes iron from the body. The most likely laboratory finding is a decreased hemoglobin concentration, reflecting reduced red blood cell mass from iron depletion. Hematocrit often follows suit and is also reduced, since it roughly tracks hemoglobin. While active inflammation in ulcerative colitis can raise the white blood cell count, that change is related to inflammation rather than bleeding itself. So, the hallmark finding tied to bleeding in this scenario is low hemoglobin.

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