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Retired NBME 15 Answers

nbme15/Block 4/Question#27 (reveal difficulty score)
A 42-year-old woman comes to the physician ...
Beta-thalassemia minor ๐Ÿ” / ๐Ÿ“บ / ๐ŸŒณ / ๐Ÿ“–
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submitted by โˆ—cassdawg(1781)
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Beta-thalassemia minor is the only potentially asymptomatic disease of the answer choices. It is asymptomatic because even though it leads to underproduction of the beta chain, there is compensation by increased HbA2. It causes a microcytic anemia, as seen (FA2020 p418).

  • Aplastic anemia would have decrease in every cell type and would more likely be symptomatic
  • Folic acid deficiency and B12 deficiency both cause macrocytic anemia, and B12 would have added neuroligic deficits
  • Sickle cell disease would definitely be symptomatic and she would have history of the disease. It also causes a hemolytic anemia. Sickle cell trait could be asymptomatic.
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cheesetouch  FA18 p 407 +



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