If a patient presents with microcytic anemia and an elevated red cell distribution width (RDW) alongside a normal reticulocyte count, which consequence follows?

💡 Explanation

A normal reticulocyte count despite anemia indicates that the bone marrow is not adequately responding to the reduced red blood cell mass. Because the marrow should increase reticulocyte production to compensate for anemia, therefore the marrow is failing, rather than erythropoietin deficiency or increased splenic activity, which would trigger an increase in reticulocytes.

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