A patient with anemia is found to have a mutation in the gene encoding for spectrin, a key component of the red blood cell cytoskeleton. Which type of anemia is this patient most likely to have?

A Hereditary spherocytosis
B Hereditary elliptocytosis ✓
C Pyropoikilocytosis
D Southeast Asian ovalocytosis

Explanation

Mutations in the gene encoding for spectrin can lead to hereditary elliptocytosis, a type of anemia characterized by elliptical-shaped red blood cells.

Source

New England Journal of Medicine
Hematology Hematology: Anemia Hematology: Anemia Medium MEDICAL Confidence: medium