American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Practice Test

Which condition is NOT typically associated with high levels of monocytes in a blood test?

1. Rhabdomyolysis

2. Myocardial infarction

3. Cancer

4. Hypertension

The correct answer is: Hypertension

Monocytes are a type of white blood cell involved in the immune response and are typically elevated in conditions that involve chronic inflammation, infection, or tissue damage. In conditions like rhabdomyolysis, myocardial infarction, and cancer, there is often significant tissue injury or inflammation, leading to increased monocyte levels. For example, in rhabdomyolysis, muscle tissue damage releases myoglobin and other substances into the bloodstream, triggering an inflammatory response that raises monocyte counts. Similarly, during a myocardial infarction, heart tissue is damaged, causing inflammation and the recruitment of monocytes to the area for healing. Cancer can also elevate monocyte levels, not just due to the tumor itself but also because of the body's immune response to the tumor, which can lead to chronic inflammation. In contrast, hypertension, while it is a significant health condition, is not directly associated with high monocyte levels like the other conditions. Hypertension can lead to some chronic changes in the body over time, but it typically does not provoke the same acute inflammatory response that drives monocyte elevation. As a result, it is not considered a condition commonly linked to high monocyte counts in a blood test.