Mary Brown [MB] is a healthy 36-year-old woman with complaints of persistent generalized fatigue. At her annual checkup, her vital signs: heart rate (HR), 118 beats/min; blood pressure (BP), 110/60 mm...

Mary Brown [MB] is a healthy 36-year-old woman with complaints of persistent generalized fatigue. At her annual checkup, her vital signs: heart rate (HR), 118 beats/min; blood pressure (BP), 110/60 mm Hg; oral temperature, 37°C; and respiratory rate (RR), 26 breaths/min. Her skin, conjunctiva and nail beds are pale. Laboratory results: hematocrit (Hct), 27%; hemoglobin (Hb), 9 g/dL and hypochromatic red blood cells (RBCs) are present.

What type of hematologic disorder would you suspect based on MB’s laboratory values? Why?