In iron-deficiency anaemia, which laboratory marker is typically decreased?

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Multiple Choice

In iron-deficiency anaemia, which laboratory marker is typically decreased?

Explanation:
Ferritin reflects stored iron in the body, so in iron-deficiency anemia the iron stores are depleted and ferritin levels fall. This makes ferritin the most specific and typically decreased marker for iron deficiency. While hematocrit is often reduced in anemia itself, it isn’t specific to iron deficiency. Platelet counts can actually rise (reactive thrombocytosis) and white blood cell counts are usually normal in iron deficiency, so they’re not the characteristic decreased marker.

Ferritin reflects stored iron in the body, so in iron-deficiency anemia the iron stores are depleted and ferritin levels fall. This makes ferritin the most specific and typically decreased marker for iron deficiency. While hematocrit is often reduced in anemia itself, it isn’t specific to iron deficiency. Platelet counts can actually rise (reactive thrombocytosis) and white blood cell counts are usually normal in iron deficiency, so they’re not the characteristic decreased marker.

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