Which transferrin saturation is expected in iron-deficiency anemia?

Study for the Ciulla Clinical Chemistry Test. Enhance your knowledge with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Prepare for the exam with comprehensive study materials and detailed explanations for each question.

Multiple Choice

Which transferrin saturation is expected in iron-deficiency anemia?

Explanation:
Transferrin saturation shows how much of transferrin’s iron-binding sites are filled. It’s calculated as (serum iron / TIBC) × 100. In iron-deficiency anemia, serum iron is low and TIBC is high because the body makes more transferrin to capture available iron. This combination drives transferrin saturation down, typically to below 15%. The other ranges reflect higher iron availability relative to binding capacity, not what you expect in iron deficiency.

Transferrin saturation shows how much of transferrin’s iron-binding sites are filled. It’s calculated as (serum iron / TIBC) × 100. In iron-deficiency anemia, serum iron is low and TIBC is high because the body makes more transferrin to capture available iron. This combination drives transferrin saturation down, typically to below 15%. The other ranges reflect higher iron availability relative to binding capacity, not what you expect in iron deficiency.

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