Abdul Mannan: Low Ferritin Is a Clue, Not the Final Diagnosis
Abdul Mannan, Consultant Haematologist at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board shared a post on LinkedIn:
”IDA is common. The mistake is treating numbers without asking why iron fell.
When I teach trainees, I use one rule.
Find the cause, then treat the cause.
Here is what you need to know:
Underproduction with a low absolute reticulocyte count is the first signal in iron deficiency anaemia.
Ferritin thresholds are group specific: less than 20 in children, less than 25 in non-pregnant adults, less than 30 in pregnancy, and less than 100 with low transferrin saturation in inflammation.
Oral iron is first line (about 65 mg elemental iron/day in adults, 3 mg/kg/day in children).
No response should prompt a quick check of dose, adherence, and hidden blood loss source.
In menstruating adults with clear heavy bleeding, iron plus bleeding control often comes before extensive GI workup.
A practical pattern: reticulocytes rise in about a week, Hb starts improving by week 2, and clear gains appear around week 4.
Evidence check: this reflects the supplied teaching content and standard haematology practice for underproduction anaemia assessment.
What part of your current IDA pathway most often causes delay in clinic?”
More posts from Abdul Mannan on Hemostasis Today.
-
Aug 18, 2026, 19:49Make the Most of Your Summer and Catch Up on Gene Therapy – EAHAD
-
Aug 18, 2026, 19:46Lesley Van Wyk: ANA Testing – From Screening to Interpretation
-
Aug 18, 2026, 19:45Factor IV – The ‘Coagulation Factor’ That Isn’t a Protein – ICHCC
-
Aug 18, 2026, 19:42Melanie Jay: What Should Behavioral Support Look Like Alongside Obesity Medications?
-
Aug 18, 2026, 19:40Subodh Verma: Tirzepatide Improves Multiple Cardiovascular Risk Pathways
-
Aug 18, 2026, 19:37Boby Varkey Maramattom: Thrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Stroke With an Unruptured Aneurysm
-
Aug 18, 2026, 19:35Kelly Anderson: Factor XIa Inhibition for Secondary Stroke Prevention
-
Aug 18, 2026, 19:33Nebil Youssef: Deaths in Custody Raise New Questions for Syria’s Government
-
Aug 18, 2026, 19:32Ihab Suliman: A Snake Venom Helping Diagnose an Autoimmune Clotting Disorder?