Clinical haematology · UKMLA & AKT
Iron deficiency anaemia
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise iron deficiency anaemia — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.
Key high-yield points
- FBC - low Hb, low MCV (<80 fL), low MCH; microcytic anaemia
- Serum ferritin - low (<15 mcg/L) is highly specific for IDA; beware false-normal in infection, inflammation, liver disease, malignancy (ferritin is an acute phase reactant)
- Reticulocyte count - normal or low in IDA; elevated in haemolytic anaemia
- Coeliac serology (tTG-IgA) - check routinely in unexplained IDA
- OGD and colonoscopy - all men and postmenopausal women with unexplained IDA to exclude GI malignancy
- Haemoglobin electrophoresis - if thalassaemia suspected (disproportionate microcytosis with normal iron studies)
Thalassaemia trait: MCV disproportionately low (often <70 fL) relative to only mild anaemia (Hb rarely <90 g/L), with normal iron studies. Do not label this as IDA - confirm with haemoglobin electrophoresis.
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