Anemias USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 24 year old Southeast Asian woman is noted to have persistent microcytosis on routine laboratory testing during pregnancy. She feels well and denies bleeding. Hemoglobin is 11.6 g/dL and MCV is 71 fL. Ferritin is normal. Peripheral smear shows target cells. Hemoglobin electrophoresis is normal. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
Answer choices
- ABeta thalassemia major due to absent beta globin synthesis
- BIron deficiency anemia due to pregnancy
- CHereditary spherocytosis due to ankyrin defect
- DAlpha thalassemia trait due to deletion of 2 alpha globin genesCorrect answer
- ESideroblastic anemia due to pyridoxine deficiency
- FBeta-thalassemia trait
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