Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON) Practice Exam

Anemia is the hallmark clinical finding in Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA). This condition is a type of macrocytic anemia primarily characterized by a failure of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells, which leads to a decreased red blood cell count. Patients with DBA typically present with significant anemia in the first few years of life, often demonstrated by symptoms such as fatigue, pallor, and shortness of breath. While leukopenia and thrombocytopenia can occur in various hematological conditions, they are not defining features of DBA. In fact, DBA is primarily associated with normocytic or macrocytic red blood cells in the setting of normal or increased white blood cell and platelet counts. Hypoglycemia is also unrelated to DBA and does not represent a clinical finding in this condition. Therefore, the prominence of anemia in patients with DBA underscores the significance of recognizing this symptom for diagnosis and management.