Posted: July 24th, 2017

A 26-year-old man who is HIV positive has a CD4+ T-lymphocyte count of 250/mm3 (N≥500). After 5 weeks of therapy with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and a protease inhibitor, he feels weak and is easily fatigued. His hemoglobin concentration has decreased from 12.8 g/dL to 8.2 g/dL. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the anemia in this patient?

A 26-year-old man who is HIV positive has a
CD4+ T-lymphocyte count of 250/mm3
(N≥500).
After 5 weeks of therapy with two nucleoside
reverse transcriptase inhibitors and a protease
inhibitor, he feels weak and is easily fatigued.
His hemoglobin concentration has decreased
from 12.8 g/dL to 8.2 g/dL. Which of the
following is the most likely cause of the anemia
in this patient?
(A) Decreased formation of erythrocytes
(B) Folic acid deficiency
(C) Increased formation of erythrocyte
antibodies
(D) Increased fragility of erythrocytes
(E) Iron deficiency