A person's iron stores will become depleted if the rate of iron loss exceeds intake. Once the iron stores are exhausted then cells dependent on iron will become affected. Erythroid cells are affected first, with other tissues affected later.
Stage
Description
Findings
0
normal iron stores
MCV normal, no anemia, ferritin normal, marrow iron stores normal
1
depletion of iron stores
MCV normal, no anemia, ferritin decreases, marrow iron present but reduced
2
exhaustion of iron stores
MCV normal, no anemia, ferritin low, marrow iron absent to very low
3
early impaired erythropoiesis with normochromic normocytic anemia
MCV normal, anemia, ferritin low, marrow iron absent
4
impaired erythropoiesis with hypochromic microcytic anemia
MCV low, anemia, ferritin low, marrow iron absent
5
non-erythroid tissue affected
MCV low, anemia, ferritin low, marrow iron absent, signs and symptoms from changes in non-erythroid tissues
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
