Haematology
Case 5: A Pregnant Woman with a Generalized Seizure
CASE
A 33‐year‐old woman who is 12 weeks’ pregnant is admitted via A&E with a generalized seizure, reduced conscious level and right‐sided weakness. According to her husband, she was perfectly well the day before and there is no history of foreign travel. On examination she has a temperature of 37.8°C, an upper motor neuron weakness affecting the right arm and leg, and a Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 10. There is no overt meningism and no rash. A CT of the head was performed which was reported as normal. Results of a lumbar puncture showed that there were no white cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the protein and glucose levels were normal. Blood and CSF cultures have been sent.
Blood results were as follows:
Hb | 9.6 g/dL |
WCC | 12.3 x 109/L |
Platelets | 35 x 109/L |
Urea | 16 mmol/L |
Creatinine | 135 μmol/L |
Bilirubin | 38 μmol/L |
ALT | 18 U/L |
ALP | 185 U/L |
Corrected Ca | 2.4 mmol/L |
QUESTION 1
Your score this session: 0 of 0
Which of the following blood tests would be most helpful in determining the cause of the abnormal full blood count?