COMAT Foundational Biomedical Science (FBS) Practicce Exam

Lead poisoning is known to interfere with several biological processes that are crucial for the production and maturation of red blood cells. Specifically, it prevents the proper incorporation of iron into hemoglobin and disrupts heme synthesis. This disruption leads to impaired production of mature red blood cells and, as a consequence, results in microcytic hypochromic anemia.

Microcytic anemia is characterized by red blood cells that are smaller in size (microcytic) and paler (hypochromic) than usual. This condition often occurs when there is inadequate iron available for hemoglobin synthesis, which is precisely what occurs in the case of lead toxicity due to the inhibition of key enzymes involved in heme production. The lead disrupts the normal functioning of these enzymes, which is essential for creating effective red blood cells. Therefore, the type of anemia that results from lead poisoning is indeed microcytic hypochromic anemia.