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Laboratory findings in iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia, and anemia of chronic disease/inflammation

Laboratory findings in iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia, and anemia of chronic disease/inflammation
Test Iron deficiency anemia Alpha or beta thalassemia Anemia of chronic disease/inflammation
Complete blood count
Hemoglobin Decreased Decreased Decreased
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) Decreased Decreased Normal to decreased
Red cell distribution width (RDW) Increased Increased or normal Normal to increased
Red blood cell count Decreased Increased or normal Decreased
Iron studies
Serum iron Decreased Normal or increased Decreased
Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC); transferrin Increased Normal Decreased
Transferrin saturation (TSAT) Decreased Normal Normal to decreased
Serum ferritin Decreased Normal or increased Increased
Erythrocyte protoporphyrin* Increased Normal or increased Increased
Soluble transferrin receptor* Increased Increased Normal
Reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (Ret-he or CHr) Decreased Decreased Normal
C-reactive protein Normal Normal Increased
Serum hepcidin* Decreased Normal to decreased Increased
Refer to UpToDate topics on anemia for further details of the evaluation and interpretation. Refer to UpToDate topics on iron deficiency anemia for early changes associated with iron deficiency (before anemia develops).
* Not used in the routine evaluation of anemia.
Graphic 65701 Version 8.0