Medical examination of a 43 y.o. man revealed objectively pailness of skin and mucous membranes, smoothness of lingual papillas, transverse striation of nails, fissures in the mouth corners, tachycardia. Hemoglobin content amounts 90 g/l; there are anisocytosis, poikilocytosis. The most probable causative agent of this condition is deficiency of the following microelement:

Answer options

1. Magnesium
2. Iron
3. Zinc
4. Selenium
5. Copper

Explanation

Medical examination of a 43 y.o. man revealed objectively pailness of skin and mucous membranes, smoothness of lingual papillas, transverse striation of nails, fissures in the mouth corners, tachycardia. Hemoglobin content amounts 90 g/l; there are anisocytosis, poikilocytosis. The most probable causative agent of this condition is deficiency of the following microelement: Deficiency of iron leads to iron deficiency anemia/microcytic anemia.Causes include:menstruatingstatepregnant and lactating womanchronic blood losscolon cancer until proven otherwise in elderlydietary deficiency in childrenhigh cow's milk intake in young childrenSymptoms:fatiguePhysical examtachycardiasmooth tonguebrittle nailsesophageal webspallorPICA (craving for ice chips)ElevatedTIBCLowserum ironserum ferritinReticulocyte count due to decreased production (no iron to support) The blood smear shows hypochromic RBCs (doughnut cells) with moderate poikilocytosis.