A27 year old hispanic male with a frequent history of opiate abuse arrives in the emergency room short of breath and complaining of intense generalized abdominal pain. pulse ox is 88%, mucous membranes are pale. he states a family history of this condition which affects him and his sister intermittently. auscultation of the lungs reveals lower right lobe consolidation and hepatosplenomegally. a blood smear reveals enlarged, pale erythrocytes of which approximately 20% have an unusual curved and flattened shape.
it appears the erythrocytes have lost their normal biconcave shape due to stressors (such as low serum po2 levels)on the patient. which of the following does not apply to this patient’s condition?
a. patient may have inherited a genetic mutation that results in unstable hemoglobin proteins.
b. abdominal pain is likely due to multiple microscopic thrombi causing ischemia and infarcts.
c. patient should be offered oxygen and opiates immediately.
d. this patient is immune to malaria.
e. this patient has increased susceptibility to infection due to abnormally low antibody production.