FERRITIN vs. SERUM IRON. 👉🏻A 26-year-old female patient. Symptoms of concern include hair loss, dental caries, tachycardia with minimal exertion, frequent morning awakenings (wakes up abruptly and falls asleep), chronic cystitis, and GERD. ⚠Attached are the patient’s test results. Serum iron is within the normal range. However, ferritin is decreased, and latent iron-binding capacity (LIBC) is increased, which are signs of iron deficiency anemia. ❗Conclusions: Serum iron is misleading. 👨💻Personally, I can only use it in conjunction with ferritin and for calculating total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). Why was serum iron normal with such symptoms characteristic of iron deficiency anemia? It is quite possible that either the diet was rich in iron, or the patient was taking a medication (although the patient denies taking any drugs). Also, ferritin tests are often performed during iron therapy.
Ferritin and Serum Iron in Iron Deficiency Diagnosis
A clinical case of iron deficiency: why serum iron remains normal despite low ferritin, high TIBC, and clinical symptoms of sideropenia.
