Which of the following conditions is associated with microcytic hypochromic anemia
Sickle cell anemia
Thalassemia
Fanconi's anemia
Hereditary spherocytosis
Ref Harrison 19 th ed pg 637 Hypochromia and microcytosis characterize all forms of b thal- assemia because of the reduced amounts of hemoglobin tetramers . In heterozygotes (b thalassemia trait), this is the only abnormality seen. Anemia is minimal. In more severe homozygous states, unbalanced a- and b-globin accumulation causes accumulation of highly insoluble unpaired a chains. They form toxic inclusion bod- ies that kill developing erythroblasts in the marrow. Few of the pro- erythroblasts beginning erythroid maturation survive. The surviving RBCs bear a burden of inclusion bodies that are detected in the spleen, shoening the RBC life span and producing severe hemolytic anemia
Haematology