Iron-deficiency anemia in infants is best characterized by which red blood cell morphology?

Iron-deficiency anemia in infants is best characterized by which red blood cell morphology?

• A. Microcytic, hypochromic
• B. Macrocytic
• C. Normocytic
• D. Spherocytes

Answer: (A)

Iron-deficiency anemia in infants causes red blood cells to become smaller and paler because there’s less hemoglobin to fill each cell. The hallmark morphology is microcytic, hypochromic: small cells (microcytosis) with reduced hemoglobin content, giving them a pale appearance (hypochromia). Early in iron deficiency the cells might still appear normocytic, but the classic and most diagnostic pattern is microcytic and hypochromic. Macrocytic would point to folate or B12 deficiency and shows larger than normal cells; normocytic can occur early but isn’t the defining feature; spherocytes indicate membrane or autoimmunity issues, not iron deficiency.

Iron-deficiency anemia in infants causes red blood cells to become smaller and paler because there’s less hemoglobin to fill each cell. The hallmark morphology is microcytic, hypochromic: small cells (microcytosis) with reduced hemoglobin content, giving them a pale appearance (hypochromia). Early in iron deficiency the cells might still appear normocytic, but the classic and most diagnostic pattern is microcytic and hypochromic.

Macrocytic would point to folate or B12 deficiency and shows larger than normal cells; normocytic can occur early but isn’t the defining feature; spherocytes indicate membrane or autoimmunity issues, not iron deficiency.