A 65-year-old Caucasian female with a past medical history significant for rheumatoid arthritis presents for evaluation of shortness of breath, fatigue, and pallor. Her peripheral smear demonstrates...

A 65-year-old Caucasian female with a past medical history significant for rheumatoid arthritis presents for evaluation of shortness of breath, fatigue, and pallor. Her peripheral smear demonstrates microcytic hypochromic anemia, and blood work reveals low transferrin and elevated ferritin. Which of the following anemias is responsible for her symptoms?

A. Iron deficiency anemia

 B. Megaloblastic anemia

 C. Hereditary spherocytosis

 D. Anemia of chronic disease