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1. What causes pernicious anemia?
A. Excess intrinsic factor
B. Lack of intrinsic factor, decreased B12
C. Iron deficiency
D. Folate excess
Rationale: Pernicious anemia results from a lack of intrinsic factor, which is needed for
B12 absorption, leading to decreased B12 levels.
2. What are the signs/symptoms of pernicious anemia?
A. Pale, smooth tongue and joint pain
B. Beefy red tongue, fatigue, paresthesia of hands/feet
C. Jaundice and abdominal pain
D. Bruising and petechiae
Rationale: A beefy red, sore tongue along with fatigue and peripheral paresthesia are
classic findings of pernicious anemia due to B12 deficiency.
3. Which conditions are classified as macrocytic anemias?
A. Iron deficiency anemia and thalassemia
B. Pernicious anemia and folate deficiency anemia (MCV >103mm)
C. Sickle cell anemia and hemolytic anemia
D. Anemia of chronic disease
Rationale: Macrocytic anemias are characterized by abnormally large red blood cells
(MCV >103mm), as seen in B12/folate deficiencies.
4. What are common causes of macrocytic anemia?
A. Menorrhagia and occult GI bleeding
B. Liver disease, low B12/folate, gastrectomy, malabsorption, alcoholism
C. Lead poisoning and chronic disease
D. Bone marrow suppression
, Rationale: Conditions that impair B12/folate absorption or utilization, such as liver
disease, gastrectomy, malabsorption, and alcoholism, lead to macrocytic anemia.
5. Which conditions are classified as microcytic anemia (MCV <87mm)?
A. Pernicious anemia and liver disease
B. Iron deficiency, late-stage anemia of chronic disease, lead poisoning, thalassemia
C. Sickle cell anemia
D. Folate deficiency
Rationale: Microcytic anemias involve smaller-than-normal red blood cells and are
commonly caused by iron deficiency, chronic disease, lead poisoning, and thalassemia.
6. Which conditions are classified as normocytic anemia (MCV 87–103mm)?
A. Iron deficiency and thalassemia
B. Anemia of chronic disease, sickle cell, impaired bone marrow, hemolytic anemia
C. Pernicious anemia
D. Folate deficiency anemia
Rationale: Normocytic anemias have normal-sized red blood cells and include conditions
like sickle cell disease, chronic disease anemia, and hemolytic anemia.
7. What is the primary storage form for iron, and what is a normal level?
A. Transferrin; >200 normal
B. Ferritin; >100 normal
C. TIBC; 240–450 normal
D. Hemoglobin; >12 normal
Rationale: Ferritin is the primary iron storage protein, with a normal level generally
above 100.
8. What conditions are associated with increased ferritin levels?
A. Iron deficiency anemia
B. Inflammatory disease, hepatitis, chronic renal failure
C. Protein malnutrition
D. Folate deficiency
Rationale: Ferritin is an acute phase reactant and rises with inflammation, hepatitis, and
chronic renal failure, independent of iron stores.
9. What does transferrin do, and what does a low level indicate?
A. Stores iron; low = iron deficiency
B. Regulates iron absorption/transport; low = protein malnutrition (normal >200)
C. Binds oxygen; low = anemia
D. Measures inflammation; low = infection
, Rationale: Transferrin transports iron in the blood, and low levels often reflect poor
protein status/malnutrition rather than iron levels alone.
10. What happens to Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) when iron is low?
A. TIBC decreases
B. TIBC increases (>400 with iron deficiency anemia)
C. TIBC remains unchanged
D. TIBC becomes undetectable
Rationale: TIBC rises when iron stores are low, as the body increases its capacity to bind
and transport available iron.
11. What lab findings are seen in primary hypothyroidism?
A. Low TSH, low T3/T4
B. High TSH, low T3 and T4
C. High TSH, high T3/T4
D. Low TSH, high T3/T4
Rationale: In primary hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland itself fails, causing low T3/T4
and a compensatory rise in TSH.
12. What lab findings are seen in secondary hypothyroidism?
A. High TSH, low T3/T4
B. Low TSH, low T3/T4, due to pituitary malfunction
C. High TSH, high T3/T4
D. Normal TSH, low T3/T4
Rationale: Secondary hypothyroidism results from pituitary dysfunction, causing low TSH
along with low T3/T4.
13. What characterizes Hashimoto's thyroiditis?
A. Autoimmune hyperthyroidism with low TSH
B. Autoimmune thyroiditis with high TSH, low T3/T4
C. Viral thyroiditis with normal labs
D. Autoimmune disorder causing high T3/T4
Rationale: Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition that destroys thyroid
tissue, leading to hypothyroidism with elevated TSH.
14. What is myxedema?
A. Bulging eyes seen in hyperthyroidism
B. Puffy facial appearance associated with hypothyroidism
C. Enlarged thyroid gland
D. Skin rash from thyroid medication