iron deficiency anaemia
investigation features
- ↓ ferritin
- ↓ serum iron (naturally)
- ↑ transferrin
- ↓ transferrin saturation
- ↑ TIBC
what's up with ferritin?
- low serum iron → ferritin transported as transferrin to erythroblasts in the bone marrow.
- along with its bound iron, it is ingested into the erythroblasts by endocytosis
- transferrin delivers the iron directly to the mitochondria, where heme is synthesized
(copied shamelessly from Guyton + Hall)
ACD vs IDA
Hepcidin (acting as an acute phase protein) reduces iron absorption
| Anaemia of chronic disease | Iron deficiency anaemia |
|---|---|
| normochromic | hypochromic |
| normal ferritin | ↓ ferritin |
| ↓ transferrin | ↑ transferrin |
| ↓ transferrin saturation | ↓↓ transferrin saturation |
| Normal/↓ TIBC | ↑ TIBC |
| normal reticulocytes |