Question

question 25 (mandatory) (1 point)
listen
a 22 - year - old female patient presents with pallor, nausea, and fatigue. she also complains of \pins and needles\ sensation in her hands and feet. physical exam reveals a smooth, thick, red tongue. lab results show increased mcv with oval macrocytes and her hemoglobin and hematocrit are low. what is the most likely diagnosis?
a) hemolytic anemia
b) pernicious anemia
c) chronic iron deficiency anemia
d) sideroblastic anemia
e) sickle cell

Explanation:

Pernicious anemia is a type of megaloblastic anemia (increased MCV with oval macrocytes). It is due to vitamin B12 deficiency (often due to lack of intrinsic factor). Symptoms include pallor, fatigue, nausea, neurological symptoms (pins - and - needles sensation), and glossitis (smooth, red, thick tongue). Hemolytic anemia usually has features like jaundice (due to bilirubin release from hemolysis) along with anemia symptoms. Chronic iron - deficiency anemia is microcytic (low MCV) and hypochromic. Sideroblastic anemia has ringed sideroblasts in the bone marrow and can be microcytic or normocytic. Sickle cell anemia has sickle - shaped red blood cells and is usually diagnosed earlier in life with a known genetic background.

Answer:

B. Pernicious anemia