Stepwise approach to the patient with suspected unintentional weight loss

CBC: complete blood count; HbA1c: hemoglobin A1c; TSH: thyroid-stimulating hormone; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; HIV: human immunodeficiency virus; CXR: chest radiograph; HCV: hepatitis C virus.
* Interval of follow-up may vary depending on the patient's age and comorbidities.
¶ For patients who are in high-risk groups:

• Those with a history of illicit injection drug use or intranasal cocaine use, even if only used once.
• Those who received clotting factors made before 1987.
• Those who received blood/organs before July 1992.
• Those who have been informed that they received blood from a donor who later tested positive for HCV.
• Children born to HCV-infected mothers.
• Those with a needle stick injury or mucosal exposure to HCV-positive blood.
• Those who are a current sexual partner of an HCV-infected person.
• Those with evidence of liver disease (persistently elevated alanine aminotransferase [ALT] level).
• Those born in the United States between 1945 and 1965.
• Those who were ever on chronic hemodialysis.
• Those infected with HIV.
• Incarcerated individuals.

Δ Refer to the UpToDate topic on preventive health care for adults.
◊ Refer to the UpToDate topic on unintentional weight loss.