A 28-year-old female presents to the emergency department with severe fatigue, shortness of breath, and pale skin. Her lab results show hemoglobin of 6.8 g/dL and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of 75 fL. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Thalassemia
Iron deficiency anemia
Sickle cell anemia
Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
The correct answer is iron deficiency anemia. The patient's symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, and pale skin are classic signs of anemia. The low hemoglobin level (6.8 g/dL) confirms the presence of anemia, as normal levels for women are typically 12.0-15.5 g/dL. The low MCV (75 fL) indicates microcytic anemia, with normal values ranging from 80-100 fL. Iron deficiency is the most common cause of microcytic anemia.
Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is incorrect because it typically causes macrocytic anemia (high MCV). Sickle cell anemia is also incorrect as it usually presents with normocytic anemia and pain crises. Thalassemia could cause microcytic anemia but is less common than iron deficiency and often has a family history.
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