From the Research
Classic iron deficiency anemia is characterized by laboratory findings including microcytic hypochromic red blood cells, decreased mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), low serum iron levels, elevated total iron binding capacity (TIBC), decreased transferrin saturation, and low serum ferritin. The diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is typically based on biochemical and hematological laboratory findings, and the identification of iron deficiency prior to anemia development is also important 1. Some key laboratory parameters include:
- Decreased MCV and MCH
- Low serum iron levels
- Elevated TIBC
- Decreased transferrin saturation (typically below 15%)
- Low serum ferritin (usually less than 30 ng/mL) A peripheral blood smear may show microcytic red cells with increased central pallor, anisocytosis, and poikilocytosis, and red cell distribution width (RDW) is typically elevated, indicating variation in red cell size 2. The most recent study 3 suggests that using mean corpuscular volume (MCV) alone may not be sufficient to detect co-existing iron deficiency anemia in patients with sickle cell disorders, and a combination of tests might be useful. However, the most important laboratory parameter for diagnosing iron deficiency anemia is serum ferritin, which reflects the body's iron stores 4. In clinical practice, a ferritin level of less than 30 ng/mL is often used as a diagnostic cut-off for iron deficiency anemia, but this value may need to be adjusted based on the individual patient's circumstances and the presence of inflammation or other conditions that may affect ferritin levels 4.