What is the diagnosis for a 74-year-old female with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), depression, restless legs syndrome (RLS), hypertension (HTN), hyperlipidemia (HLD), obesity, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), presenting with anemia, leukocytosis, and thrombocytosis?

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Differential Diagnosis for 74 F with Type 2 DM, Depression, Restless Legs, HTN, HLD, Obesity, OSA

Single Most Likely Diagnosis

  • Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) with Anemia: The patient's low hemoglobin, hematocrit, and RBC count, along with a history of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, suggest CKD with anemia. The patient's MCV is high, indicating a macrocytic anemia, which can be seen in CKD due to decreased erythropoietin production.

Other Likely Diagnoses

  • Vitamin B12 or Folate Deficiency: The patient's macrocytic anemia (high MCV) could also be due to a vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, which is common in older adults and can be exacerbated by medications such as metformin.
  • Iron Deficiency Anemia: Although the patient's MCV is high, iron deficiency anemia can also present with a high RDW, which is seen in this patient. Iron deficiency anemia is common in patients with CKD and can be due to blood loss, inadequate dietary intake, or increased iron requirements.
  • Chronic Inflammation: The patient's elevated WBC count and history of depression, restless legs, and obesity suggest chronic inflammation, which can contribute to anemia of chronic disease.

Do Not Miss Diagnoses

  • Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS): Although less likely, MDS is a potentially deadly diagnosis that should not be missed. The patient's macrocytic anemia, thrombocytosis, and elevated RDW could be indicative of MDS.
  • Hematologic Malignancy: A hematologic malignancy such as lymphoma or leukemia should be considered, especially given the patient's elevated WBC count and history of depression, which can be a paraneoplastic symptom.

Rare Diagnoses

  • Pernicious Anemia: A rare cause of macrocytic anemia, pernicious anemia is due to a lack of intrinsic factor, which is necessary for vitamin B12 absorption.
  • Sideroblastic Anemia: A rare cause of anemia, sideroblastic anemia is characterized by the presence of ringed sideroblasts in the bone marrow and can be due to genetic or acquired causes.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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