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- Iron is necessary for the formation of heme, a component of the hemoglobin molecule. Hemoglobin is the primary oxygen-carrying molecule in the blood. Iron is also needed for the formation of other body enzymes (myoglobin, a muscle enzyme, for example). Iron in the body is stored in the form of ferritin or hemosiderin.
- Iron deficiency most commonly
occurs because lack of absorption in the stomach and
intestines, blood loss in gastrointestinal tract, or blood
loss from the uterus.
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- May have none
- Fatigue
- Heart racing
- Palpitations
- Shortness of breath on exertion
- Ice craving
- Brittle nails
- Smoothing of the tongue
- Lip
cracking
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- Low hemoglobin/hematocrit
- Low MCV (red blood size)
- Low ferritin level
- Low Iron level and high TIBC
(Total Iron Binding Capacity) level
- Low transferrin
saturation
- Urinalysis to look for hemoglobin or myoglobin or red blood cells
- Colonoscopy and/or
upper endoscopy/upper GI series to rule out cancer or Ulcer Disease
- Endometrial biopsy and/or pelvic Ultrasound may be consider in women
- Bone marrow biopsy if diagnosis or
cause not clear
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- Oral iron supplementation -- usually Iron sulfate 325mg, three times a day. A stool softener is often needed because iron is constipating. There are "slow" iron preparations available that may be easier on the stomach.
- Find and treat underlying the
cause(s).
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- Anemia of chronic disease
- Thalassemia
- Sideroblastic anemia
- Lead Poisoning
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