A nurse is caring for a client who has chronic renal disease and is receiving therapy with epoetin alfa. Which of the following laboratory results should the nurse review for an indication of a therapeutic effect of the medication?

Rationale: A. The leukocyte count measures white blood cells and is not affected by epoetin alfa therapy, which specifically targets red blood cell production. B. The platelet count measures clotting ability and is unrelated to the therapeutic goal of epoetin alfa, which stimulates erythropoiesis, not thrombopoiesis. C. The hematocrit (Hct) is the most accurate indicator of a therapeutic response to epoetin alfa. This medication promotes red blood cell production in the bone marrow, increasing the hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, which improves oxygen-carrying capacity and reduces anemia symptoms in clients with chronic renal disease. D. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a nonspecific indicator of inflammation and does not reflect the effectiveness of epoetin alfa therapy.