Continuous rectal bleeding in ulcerative colitis can lead to which finding?

Continuous rectal bleeding in ulcerative colitis can lead to which finding?

• A. Anemia with fatigue
• B. Increased blood glucose
• C. Hypertension
• D. Weight gain

Answer: (A)

Continuous rectal bleeding in ulcerative colitis typically causes iron-deficiency anemia from ongoing blood loss. As iron stores are depleted, hemoglobin production drops, leading to fatigue, weakness, pallor, and sometimes rapid heart rate. This direct consequence of chronic GI bleeding makes anemia with fatigue the best answer. The other options don’t fit because these conditions aren’t standard results of chronic mucosal bleeding in UC—glucose levels aren’t driven up by this bleeding, blood pressure isn’t inherently raised, and weight gain isn’t a characteristic outcome (weight loss or malnutrition is more common with active disease).

Continuous rectal bleeding in ulcerative colitis typically causes iron-deficiency anemia from ongoing blood loss. As iron stores are depleted, hemoglobin production drops, leading to fatigue, weakness, pallor, and sometimes rapid heart rate. This direct consequence of chronic GI bleeding makes anemia with fatigue the best answer. The other options don’t fit because these conditions aren’t standard results of chronic mucosal bleeding in UC—glucose levels aren’t driven up by this bleeding, blood pressure isn’t inherently raised, and weight gain isn’t a characteristic outcome (weight loss or malnutrition is more common with active disease).