Case Study: Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)

Dolores, 28-year-old, is in the second trimester of pregnancy with her first child and has noticed that she tires very easily and is short of breath from even the slightest exertion. She also has experienced periods of light-headedness, leg cramps, desire to crunch on ice, and sore tongue. Her physical examination reveals tachycardia, pale gums and nail beds, and swollen tongue. Her labs are as followed: RBC 3.5 million/mm3, Hgb 7 g/dl, Hct 30%, Serum Iron low, MCV low, MCHC low, TIBC high. Dolores is diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Describe the structure of a molecule of hemoglobin and explain the role played by iron in the transport of oxygen. What are the most common causes of IDA? How is IDA treated and prevented? What will you prescribe? What are the patient education guidelines for taking the medications?

Each case study presentation will include:
1.    Pathophysiology of the disease or physiology of the organism that the drug(s) are addressing.
2.    What drugs are commonly used to treat which pathophysiological states?
3.    What is/are the drug(s) of choice and why?
4.    What organ systems/tissues are being targeted?
5.    What are the reasons second and third-line drugs may be used?

Please read the required format Per the instructor “As this is a pharmacology course, please try to keep, as much as possible, your posts related to pharmacology, prescribing practices, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics, especially when it relates to evidence-based treatments and national guidelines. When writing discussion posts about pharmacology, prescribing practices, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, evidence-based treatments, and national guidelines, it is often unnecessary to use the word "I." The focus of the discussion is pharmacology, prescribing practices, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, evidence-based treatments, and national guidelines--something generalizable to the public and not necessarily personal experiences. Since you are all going to become nurse practitioners, I recommend you all start using provider-neutral language like "provider," "clinician," or "practitioner"