A hemoglobin of 11.2 g/dL in an adult male is most indicative of which condition?

• A. Dehydration
• B. Anemia
• C. Polycythemia
• D. Thrombocytopenia

Answer: (B)

A low hemoglobin value in an adult man signals anemia, meaning there is reduced red blood cell mass or hemoglobin concentration and thus diminished oxygen-carrying capacity for tissues. For reference, normal adult male hemoglobin is roughly in the mid-teens to around 17 g/dL, so a value of 11.2 g/dL falls below normal and is consistent with anemia. Dehydration tends to raise hemoglobin by concentrating the blood, not lower it, so it wouldn’t explain a low reading. Polycythemia involves too many red cells, leading to high hemoglobin, not low. Thrombocytopenia refers to low platelets and does not directly indicate low hemoglobin. Therefore, this Hb value most indicates anemia.