Master the Boards USMLE Step 2CK

A 73-year-old man comes to the office with fatigue that has become progressively worse over the last several months. He is also short of breath when he walks up one flight of stairs. He drinks 4 vodka martinis a day. He complains of numbness and tingling in his feet. On physical examination he has decreased sensation of his feet. His hematocrit is 28% and his MCV is 114 fL (elevated). What is the most appropriate next step in management? A. Vitamin B12 level B. Folate level C. Peripheral blood smear D. Schilling test E. Methylmalonic acid level - Answer: C. Although a macrocytic anemia could be from B12 or folate deficiency, direct alcohol effect on the bone marrow, or liver disease, the first step is a peripheral smear. This is to detect hypersegmented neutrophils. Once hypersegmented neutrophils are seen, then you would get B12 and folate levels