Institution: Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) Exam: 39th BCS Preliminary Exam 2018
Topic: Biology (জীববিদ্যা), Subject: General knowledge(সাধারণ জ্ঞান)

Best Answer Explained in Below-:

Microcytic hypochromic anemia is characterized by the presence of smaller-than-average red blood cells (microcytic) that have reduced hemoglobin content (hypochromic). This type of anemia is most commonly associated with conditions that affect hemoglobin production.

Thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder, results from mutations affecting the alpha or beta globin chains of hemoglobin. These mutations lead to ineffective erythropoiesis (red blood cell production) and hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells), resulting in microcytic hypochromic anemia due to the inability to produce adequate hemoglobin. Patients with thalassemia often exhibit low mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and low mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), hallmarks of microcytic hypochromic anemia.

In contrast, the other options provided—multiple myeloma, liver disease, and infective endocarditis—are typically associated with normocytic anemia or other types of anemia. Multiple myeloma can lead to anemia due to bone marrow infiltration; liver disease can affect iron metabolism and lead to mixed anemia types; and infective endocarditis may result in anemia through chronic disease mechanisms, but not specifically microcytic hypochromic anemia. Thus, thalassemia is the clear and correct association with microcytic hypochromic anemia.