A 23-year-old man with severe anemia and leg ulcers is most likely to exhibit which laboratory finding?

The presence of sickle cells on a peripheral blood smear is indicative of sickle cell anemia, which is a genetic disorder characterized by the production of abnormal hemoglobin (hemoglobin S). In sickle cell anemia, when the red blood cells are subjected to low oxygen levels, they can distort into a crescent or sickle shape. This distortion leads to various complications, including severe anemia and leg ulcers due to impaired blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues.

The symptoms described in the scenario—a 23-year-old man with severe anemia and leg ulcers—are consistent with the complications experienced by individuals with sickle cell disease. Leg ulcers occur as a result of sickling that causes vascular occlusion, leading to ischemia and tissue damage. Therefore, observing sickle cells on a peripheral blood smear in this patient aligns perfectly with the clinical presentation and underlying pathology of sickle cell anemia.

In contrast, normal red blood cells would not explain the severe anemia and ulcers. An elevated white blood cell count is not specifically indicative of any type of anemia and would not directly correlate with the symptoms described. A high hemoglobin level would contradict the diagnosis of severe anemia, as anemia is typically characterized by lower hemoglobin levels. Thus, the identification of sickle cells