Bluish discoloration of the nails, indicative of peripheral cyanosis, suggests what level of reduced hemoglobin?
Understand the Problem
The question asks about the level of reduced hemoglobin that would cause bluish discoloration of the nails (peripheral cyanosis). It requires knowledge of the physiological basis of cyanosis and its relationship to hemoglobin levels.
Answer
Peripheral cyanosis suggests at least 5 g/dL of reduced hemoglobin.
The bluish discoloration of the nails, indicative of peripheral cyanosis, suggests that there is at least 5 g/dL of reduced hemoglobin.
Answer for screen readers
The bluish discoloration of the nails, indicative of peripheral cyanosis, suggests that there is at least 5 g/dL of reduced hemoglobin.
More Information
The presence of 5 g/dL of reduced hemoglobin in the capillaries causes the dark blue color associated with cyanosis. Anemic patients may not show cyanosis despite hypoxemia because they may not have enough hemoglobin to reach this threshold.
Tips
A common mistake is to confuse the amount of reduced hemoglobin with the total hemoglobin level. Cyanosis indicates the level of reduced hemoglobin, not the overall hemoglobin concentration in the blood.
Sources
- Central and Peripheral Cyanosis - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Peripheral cyanosis: Symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment - medicalnewstoday.com
- Peripheral Cyanosis (Blue Hands and Feet): Causes and More - healthline.com
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