Blood Normal Clinical Significance
sample
Arterial Blood PaO2 = 80-100 Panic Values for ABGs
Gases (ABG) mm Hg PaO2: < 40
PaCO2 = 35- PaCO2: < 20 or > 70
45 mm Hg pH: < 7.2 or > 7.6
pH = 7.35-7.45 HCO3: < 10 or > 40
HCO3 = 22-26 SaO2: < 60%
mEq/l
SaO2 = 95- * See more information regarding CO2 Retention.
99%
Degrees of Hypoxia:
mild: PaO2 of 60-80 mm
mod: PaO2 of 40-60 mm
severe: PaO2 < 40 mm
Hematocrit Female: 36- Low values = Anemia: monitor for fatigue,
(Hct) 46% dyspnea, tachycardia, tachypnea
Male: 42-52% *Anemia may present with a normal PulsOx.
RBC / Blood = ___ %
Hemoglobin Female: 12-15 Low values = Anemia: monitor for fatigue,
(Hgb) g/dl dyspnea, tachycardia, tachypnea
Male: 14-17
g/dl Chemotherapy : < 10 -- hold aerobic exercise
RBC Count Female: 4 -5.5 Low values = Anemia: monitor for fatigue,
million/mm3 dyspnea, tachycardia, tachypnea
Male: 4.5 - 6.2
million/mm3 High values: In COPD, may indicate
Polycythemia, a compensation for pulmonary
dysfunction that makes blood thicker, and
increases risk of CVA, etc.
"Sed Rate", Female: 1-25 Bad if elevated.
Erythrocyte mm/hr Used to diagnose, or follow the course of
Sedimentatio Male: 0-17 inflammatory diseases, e.g. rheumatic conditions
n Rate (ESR) mm/hr
Alternative calculation of normal value:
Female: (age + 10) / 2
Male: age / 2
Total WBC 5,000 - 10,000 > 10,000 indicates systemic infection (more than
Count /mm3 just local colonization)
Chemotherapy :
< 5,000: use reverse isolation, see patient in room,
careful hygiene, hold aerobic exercise
Platelets, 200,000 - Chemotherapy:
Thrombocyte 500,000 /mm3
s 30,000 – 50,000: avoid resisted exercise,
risk of internal hemorrhage, ambulation OK
< 30,000: bedside, gentle AROM
< 20,000: consult with physician or nurse
before activity
Creatinine Female: 0.6 - Renal function measure: high values are bad.
1.2 mg/dl May indicate nephropathy, end stage renal d.
Male: 0.5 - 1.1 Can occur in brittle diabetics also.
mg/dl
Elderly values are
lower because of
reduced muscle
mass
Potassium (K) 3.5 - 5.0 mEq/l Low (hypokalemia) secondary to: vomiting,
diarrhea, sweating, or use of loop diuretics e.g.
Lasix, furosemide. Also increases the risk of
digitalis toxicity.
Result of low K: ventricular arrhythmias
High (hyperkalemia) secondary to: overuse of K
supplements, renal or endocrine problem.
Result of high K: ventricular arrhythmias, asystole
Calcium (Ca) 8.2 -10.2 mg/dl Low (hypocalcemia): secondary to: abuse of
laxatives, renal failure, low dietary calcium or Vit. D
intake, excessive magnesium intake.
Result of low Ca: osteoporosis, muscle spasms /
tetany, calcium deposits in tissue; cardiac
arrhythmia, asystole
High (hypercalcemia): secondary to:
immobilization, metastatic bone CA; overuse of
antacids containing calcium
Result of high Ca:
thirst; polyuria; renal stones; decreased muscle
tone and DTRs; tachycardia; cardiac arrhythmia,
asystole
Sodium (Na) 136 -145 mEq/l Low (hyponatremia) secondary to: fluid loss from
diarrhea, vomiting, diaphoresis, diuretic use.
Result of low Na: postural hypotension, abdominal
cramps, headache, fatigue, weakness
High (hypernatremia) secondary to: dehydration,
high salt intake, poor renal function
Result of high Na: edema, tachycardia
Diabetes Clinical Significance
Blood A 12 hour fasting blood glucose (FBG) reading at this
Glucose: 100 -125 level is diagnostic of "pre-diabetes", insulin resistance,
for mg/dl or glucose intolerance.
diagnosis It may be a component of metabolic syndrome.
Blood
Glucose: > 126 A 12 hour fasting blood glucose (FBG) reading, on 2
for mg/dl different days at this level is diagnostic of diabetes.
diagnosis
Glycosylate 4 - 6% is Lab work done at the doctor's office, that gives an
d normal average of the last 3 month's BG.
Hemoglobin The goal for diabetic patients it to keep the value < 7%
(HBA1c) or
A1c
Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) results for COPD and for RLD
FVC FEV1 FEV1 / FVC
COPD Decreased. Decreased. Decreased.
Mild: 65-80% of predicted Mild: 65-80% of predicted Mild: 65-80% of predicted
Mod: 50-65% of predicted Mod: 50-65% of predicted Mod: 50-65% of predicted
Severe: < 50% of predicted Severe: < 50% of Severe: < 50% of predicted
predicted
Decreased. Decreased. Normal or increased.
Mild: 65-80% of predicted Mild: 65-80% of predicted 80-100% of predicted
RLD Mod: 50-65% of predicted Mod: 50-65% of predicted
Severe: < 50% of predicted Severe: < 50% of
predicted
BP - lifespan values
Vital signs - pediatric values
Adult Values SBP DBP
Normal < 120 < 80
PreHypertensio
120-139 80-89
n
HTN - Stage 1 140-159 90-99
HTN - Stage 2 > 160 > 100
- According to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Detection, Education, and
Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNCVI). 2003
Ejection Fraction (EF), defines degrees of heart failure:
Mild failure: 40-60% EF
Moderate failure: 20-40% EF
Severe failure < 20% EF
CHF is quantified by an echocardiogram (US) reading of elevated EDV (End Diastolic Volume
and decreased SV (Stroke Volume)
Rheumatic diseases and tests with which they may be strongly associated:
Bartlett, S. (2006). Clinical Care in the Rheumatic Diseases. (3rd ed.). Association of Rheumatology
Health Professionals. American College of Rheumatology. Atlanta : ARHP
Rheumatoid factor (RF) RA -70%, Sjogrens -90% (p.44-5)
Antinuclear Antibodies: ANA (Fluorescent SLE - 99% (p.45)
ANA = FANA)
HLA B27: Human Leukocyte Antigens AS - 90%, Reiters - 80% (p.178)
ESR Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate & CRP RA and Polymyalgia Rheumatica
(C-reactive protein)
Most useful as serial measurements to
track the course of the disease,
especially when in active inflammation
(p.48)
Uric Acid Crystals (synovial aspiration) Gout or pseudogout (p.44)
WBC levels Most indicative of Gout
(synovial aspiration)
Normal in RA, but can be
elevated during inflammatory
phase (p.47-48).
Leukopenia and other
hematologic disorders can
occur in SLE (p.188)
BMI calculator
BMI table
Underweight < 18.5
Normal
18.5 - 24.9
weight
Overweight 25 - 29.9
Obesity > 30
Morbid
> 40
Obesity
VO2 Max / 3.5 = METs
Ankle Brachial Index (ABI):
Clinical application: decisions about use of compression, and use of sharp
debridement. Prognostic for wound healing.
Ankle SBP / Brachial SBP
Must have a doppler US to hear SBP at the dorsalis pedis artery. Cuff goes around
calf).
For normal persons, leg SBP is higher than brachial SBP.
0.9 -
Normal
1.2
0.7 - Mild arterial disease (intermittent
0.9 claudication pain)
0.5 - Moderate arterial disease
0.7 (claudication pain at rest)
Severe arterial disease (risk of
< 0.5
gangrene)
Falsely high values that are > 1.2 may indicate arteriosclerosis (diabetes), because
the vessels are calcified and non-compressible by the BP cuff. Referral for other
testing would be appropriate.
Radiology for the PT:
Radiographs of normal joints and pathology.
Has a feature which allows you to turn bony landmark labels on and off, so you can
do a self-quiz of bony anatomy.
University of Missouri
School of Health Professions
Department of Physical Therapy
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