Methotrexate-induced bone marrow suppression places patients at risk for what complication?

Methotrexate-induced bone marrow suppression places patients at risk for what complication?

• A. Increased risk of infection due to neutropenia
• B. Hypercoagulability
• C. Hyperlipidemia
• D. Hypertension

Answer: (B)

Bone marrow suppression lowers the production of white blood cells, especially neutrophils, which are the primary defenders against bacterial and fungal infections. When neutrophil counts drop (neutropenia), the body’s ability to fight off invading pathogens diminishes, making infections much more likely and potentially severe. Fever can be the first and sometimes only sign of infection in neutropenic patients, so clinicians monitor CBCs closely and act quickly if fever or any signs of infection appear. This is why infection risk due to neutropenia is the most clinically significant complication of methotrexate-induced marrow suppression. The other options—hypercoagulability, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension—are not direct consequences of this marrow suppression.

Bone marrow suppression lowers the production of white blood cells, especially neutrophils, which are the primary defenders against bacterial and fungal infections. When neutrophil counts drop (neutropenia), the body’s ability to fight off invading pathogens diminishes, making infections much more likely and potentially severe. Fever can be the first and sometimes only sign of infection in neutropenic patients, so clinicians monitor CBCs closely and act quickly if fever or any signs of infection appear. This is why infection risk due to neutropenia is the most clinically significant complication of methotrexate-induced marrow suppression. The other options—hypercoagulability, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension—are not direct consequences of this marrow suppression.