Clinical haematology · UKMLA & AKT
Iron deficiency anaemia
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test, covering how to recognise this condition. The full SA Note notes add investigations, management and complications, with practice questions on this topic.
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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