A 52-year-old woman presents to her primary care physician complaining of increasing fatigue and mild shortness of breath. Blood work reveals a hypochromic anemia with a hemoglobin concentration of 10.4 g/dL, MCV of 76 u/m3, MCHC of 29 g/dL, and a decrease in the absolute reticulocyte count. WBC and platelet counts are within normal limits. Serum iron and ferritin levels are low and total iron-binding capacity is elevated. Which of the following conditions best accounts for these findings? Aplastic anemia Pernicious anemia Iron deficiency anemia Anemia of chronic disease hypothyroidism

A 52-year-old woman presents to her primary care physician complaining of increasing fatigue and mild shortness of breath. Blood work reveals a hypochromic anemia with a hemoglobin concentration of 10.4 g/dL, MCV of 76 u/m3, MCHC of 29 g/dL, and a decrease in the absolute reticulocyte count. WBC and platelet counts are within normal limits. Serum iron and ferritin levels are low and total iron-binding capacity is elevated. Which of the following conditions best accounts for these findings? Aplastic anemia Pernicious anemia Iron deficiency anemia Anemia of chronic disease hypothyroidism