Which laboratory finding should a nurse anticipate following the administration of vincristine for Hodgkin disease?

Following the administration of vincristine for Hodgkin disease, a decreased platelet count is anticipated due to the medication's cytotoxic effects. Vincristine is a chemotherapy agent that works by inhibiting mitosis, specifically blocking the production of new cells, which can lead to bone marrow suppression. This suppression affects the production of various blood components, including platelets, leading to thrombocytopenia, or a decreased platelet count.

The effects on blood cell production can vary, but the impact on platelets is significant because vincristine does not typically cause as much myelosuppression as some other chemotherapeutic agents. However, patients receiving vincristine still have an increased risk of low platelet levels. Monitoring for this laboratory finding is essential for managing potential complications such as increased bleeding risk.

In contrast, the other laboratory findings listed are not typically associated with vincristine. For example, you'd usually expect white blood cell counts to fluctuate with other chemotherapeutic agents and not exclusively with vincristine. Increased liver enzymes can have various causes, including different medications or liver conditions, rather than being a direct result of vincristine treatment. Decreased hemoglobin levels can occur due to anemia from various causes but is not a direct or primary effect