What is the primary cause of microcytic-hypochromic anemia?

Microcytic-hypochromic anemia is primarily characterized by the presence of small and pale red blood cells. The main causes of this type of anemia are related to deficiencies in hemoglobin synthesis, the most prevalent being iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and thalassemia.

In iron deficiency anemia, there is insufficient iron available for hemoglobin production, leading to the formation of microcytic and hypochromic erythrocytes. This deficiency is often due to inadequate dietary iron intake, chronic blood loss, or malabsorption issues.

Thalassemia, another cause of microcytic-hypochromic anemia, is a genetic disorder that affects hemoglobin production. It results in anomalies in the synthesis of globin chains, causing imbalances and resulting in ineffective erythropoiesis, leading to the production of smaller and less color-intensive red blood cells.

Therefore, both of these conditions directly contribute to the microcytic-hypochromic characteristics of the anemia, making this option the accurate choice. In contrast, folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiencies typically cause macrocytic anemia, which features larger red blood cells, while hemolysis involves the destruction of red blood cells rather than issues with their production