<prompt> A 29 year old woman was found to have a hemoglobin of 7.8 gdl. with a reticulocyte count of 0.8. The peripherial blood smear showed microcytic hypochromic anemia, Hemoglobin A2 and hemoglobin F levels were 2.4 and 1.3 respectively. The serum iron and the total iron binding capacity were 15 micro gdl, and 420 micro gdl, respectively. The most likely cause of anemia is:Iron deficiency anemia.Beta-thalassemia minorSideroblastic anemiaAnemia due to chronic infection  <response>: Answer is A Iron deficiency anemia Hypochromic microcytic anemia with decreased serum iron and an increased total iron binding capacity TIBC suggests a diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia Parameter Normal index Patient in question Inference Hb Male 14-18 gdl Female 12-16 gdl 7.8 gdl 4, Serum Iron 50-150 ligdi 15 mgdi .1, Saturation 30-50 ? Serum Ferritin 50-200 !AWL - ? Total iron binding capacity 300-600 ugdl 420iigd1 1 HbA2 1.5 to 3.5 of total Hb. 2.4 N HbF 2 of total Hb. 1-3 N Remember: Hypochromic microcytic anemia with decreased serum iron and increased TIBC is iron deficiency anemiae Hypochromic microcytic anemia with decreased serum iron and decreased TIBC is anemia of chronic diseasee Differential diagnosis of Microcytic Hypochromic Anemia Parameters Iron deficiency Thalassemia Sideroblastic Chronic Inflammatory Smear Microcytic hypochromic target cell Microcytic hypochromic Variable Normocytic Se Fe 30 ,i, N N ,l, 50 TIBC 360 T N N ,l, 300 Saturation 10 4 1 30-80 1 30-80 1, 10-20 Ferritin 15 4. 1 50-300 1. 50-300 1 30-200 