In a client experiencing pancytopenia due to chemotherapy, which laboratory finding is likely?

In a patient experiencing pancytopenia as a result of chemotherapy, a decreased red blood cell count is a common laboratory finding. Pancytopenia refers to the reduction of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the bloodstream. Chemotherapy can suppress bone marrow function, leading to decreased production of all blood cell types.

A red blood cell count of 3.0 million/mcL is significantly lower than normal levels, which typically range from about 4.2 million to 6.1 million/mcL for men and 3.6 million to 5.4 million/mcL for women. This marked decrease reflects the bone marrow’s inadequate response to produce enough red blood cells due to the effects of chemotherapy, thereby contributing to anemia—a common component of pancytopenia.

The other choices present values that would not be characteristic of a patient with pancytopenia. High white blood cell counts indicated in one option, and platelet counts within the normal range in two others, do not align with a diagnosis of pancytopenia. Thus, the identification of a reduced red blood cell count in this context is consistent with the expected impact of chemotherapy on hematologic parameters.