Normal serum iron and elevated total iron-binding capacity in iron-deficiency states.
Five nonanemic patients with normal erythrocytic indexes were found to have normal serum iron, elevated total iron-binding capacity, normal percentage of saturation of transferrin, and depleted bone marrow iron stores. These findings suggest that during the development of iron deficiency, an elevation of total iron-binding capacity occurs before the decrease of the serum iron. This may represent a compensatory mechanism to mobilize all traces of tissue iron to maintain normal erythropoiesis.
D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000378:metabolism; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000378:metabolism; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron