Anemias Case Study

A 21 year old white female college student of Greek ethnicity visited her gynecologist in San Francisco. She appeared to be healthy and was 3 months pregnant. The physician ordered a prenatal screen to include a CBC and urinalysis. The following results were sent to the physician:

WBC: 7,000/ul

RBC: 5.06 x 10⁶/ul

Hb: 11.2 g/dl

HCT: 33.6%

MCV: 66.4 fl

MCHC: 33 g/dl

The differential revealed normal WBC population with a significant microcytosis, 2+ hypchromia, and 2+ target cells. On receipt of these results the physician referred the patient to a hematologist for further testing and counseling.

Questions:

1. What specific kind of anemia can be diagnosed based on the laboratory findings?
2. What is the etiology and physiological process in this anemia?
3. Explain the asymptomatic state and peripheral blood findings in this patient.
4. What kind of advanced prenatal testing can be performed?
5. Is there an option for carriers with this disease who do not want to risk having a child with this same disease?