A nurse is reviewing the complete blood count results for a 4-year-old child who is receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the treatment is having a therapeutic effect?

Choice A rationale: A hemoglobin of 6.8 g/dL is significantly below the normal range for a 4-year-old. This finding indicates ongoing anemia, which is a common complication of leukemia rather than a therapeutic response. Choice B rationale: An RBC count of 5/mm³ falls within the normal pediatric range. In leukemia, the bone marrow is crowded with blast cells; a normal RBC count suggests the marrow is recovering and producing healthy cells. Choice C rationale: A WBC count of 15,000/mm³ is elevated. In acute lymphoblastic leukemia, high WBC counts often represent an overabundance of immature, non-functional leukemic blast cells, suggesting the disease is still active. Choice D rationale: A platelet count of 98,000/mm³ indicates thrombocytopenia. While common during chemotherapy, a therapeutic effect would be demonstrated by a return toward the normal range of 150,000 to 400,000/mm³.