A 32-year-old man has a mild anemia diagnosed on routine testing. He has no symptoms and feels fine. His clinical examination is normal, and a blood film reveals some target cells with some red cells having intraerythrocytic crystals.For the above patient with a hemoglobin abnormality, select the most likely diagnosis.: (A) beta-thalassemia major, (B) HbH disease, (C) sickle cell disease, (D) HbC disease
Answer is D. The patients with homozygous HbC disease have mild hemolysis, splenomegaly, target cells, and HbC crystals. Unlike sickle cell disease, the prognosis is favorable.