A 42 year-old African American male comes to your office for a checkup. His CBC shows a mild microcytic hypochromic anemia, and hemoglobin electrophoresis shows elevated hemoglobin F and decreased...

A 42 year-old African American male comes to your office for a checkup. His CBC shows a mild microcytic hypochromic anemia, and hemoglobin electrophoresis shows elevated hemoglobin F and decreased hemoglobin A. Target cells are also visible on a peripheral smear. Which of the following diseases does the patient suffer from?

A. Sickle cell disease

B. Iron deficiency anemia

C. Alpha-thalassemia

D. Beta-thalassemia minor