A 26-year-old woman, gravida 1 para 0, comes to the office to initiate prenatal care. The patient has had no nausea, abdominal pain, or vaginal bleeding since her last menstrual period 8 weeks ago. She has no chronic medical conditions. She had an appendectomy as a child but no other surgery. The patient takes a daily prenatal vitamin and does not use tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs. She is a vegetarian and emigrated from Southeast Asia 5 years ago. Blood pressure is 110/75 mm Hg and pulse is 80/min. BMI is 21 kg/m². Pelvic examination reveals an 8-week-sized, nontender uterus and no adnexal masses or tenderness. Laboratory results are as follows: A transvaginal ultrasound reveals an 8-week intrauterine gestation with a normal heartbeat. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's anemia?
A)Folate deficiency
B)Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
C)Iron deficiency
D)Physiologic anemia of pregnancy
E)Thalassemia trait

Question

A 26-year-old woman, gravida 1 para 0, comes to the office to initiate prenatal care. The patient has had no nausea, abdominal pain, or vaginal bleeding since her last menstrual period 8 weeks ago. She has no chronic medical conditions. She had an appendectomy as a child but no other surgery. The patient takes a daily prenatal vitamin and does not use tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs. She is a vegetarian and emigrated from Southeast Asia 5 years ago. Blood pressure is 110/75 mm Hg and pulse is 80/min. BMI is 21 kg/m². Pelvic examination reveals an 8-week-sized, nontender uterus and no adnexal masses or tenderness. Laboratory results are as follows:

A transvaginal ultrasound reveals an 8-week intrauterine gestation with a normal heartbeat. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's anemia?
A)Folate deficiency
B)Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
C)Iron deficiency
D)Physiologic anemia of pregnancy
E)Thalassemia trait

A 26-Year-Old Woman, Gravida 1 Para 0, Comes to the Office