system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 32-year-old woman complains of fatigue and pallor. She says symptoms that started several months ago and have been becoming more serious with time. She reports that she has been exercising regularly and has been adhering to a strict vegan diet. The patient has no significant past medical history and takes no current medications. She denies any smoking history, alcohol use, or recreational drug use. She is tachycardic, but otherwise, her physical examination is unremarkable. A complete blood count (CBC) shows anemia with a low MCV (mean corpuscular volume), and a peripheral blood smear shows small erythrocytes. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis in this patient?
assistant
Iron deficiency anemia