<prompt> A 25 year old women presents with recurrent abdominal pain and anaemia. Peripheral blood smear shows basophilic stippling of the RBCs. What is the most likely diagnosis?Coeliac diseaseHookworm diseaseSickle cell diseaseLead poisoning  <response>: Basophilic stippling a.k.a Punctate basophilia These inclusions are precipitated ribosomal RNA. Stippling is observed in cases of: Hemoglobinopathies Dys-erythropoietic states like: Lead poisoning megaloblastic anemias thalassemias sideroblastic anemias Alcoholism Pyriinidine-5- nucleotidase deficiency RBC inclusions: Inclusion Content Howell- Jolly body DNA Basophilic stippling RNA Pappenheimer body Iron Heinz body Denatured Hb Cabot ring Mitotic spindle remnant 