NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

What is a likely cause of microcytic anemia?

1. Vitamin B12 deficiency

2. Iron deficiency

3. Folate deficiency

4. CKD

The correct answer is: Iron deficiency

Iron deficiency is a likely cause of microcytic anemia. In microcytic anemia, red blood cells are smaller than normal and contain less hemoglobin. Iron is essential for the production of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in red blood cells. Therefore, a lack of iron can lead to decreased hemoglobin production and smaller red blood cells, resulting in microcytic anemia. Vitamin B12 deficiency (choice A) usually causes macrocytic anemia, where red blood cells are larger than normal. Folate deficiency (choice C) can also lead to macrocytic anemia, not microcytic anemia. Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) (choice D) commonly causes normocytic anemia, where red blood cells are a normal size but decreased in number.