Hemostasis Today
NewsFeed
Headlines Hematology Health Medicine VTE ASH Plasma Donation
October, 2026
September 2026
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930  
Abdul Mannan: Low Ferritin Is a Clue, Not the Final Diagnosis
Abdul Mannan/LinkedIn
Aug 18, 2026, 16:33

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?”

Abdul Mannan: Low Ferritin Is a Clue, Not the Final Diagnosis

More posts from Abdul Mannan on Hemostasis Today.

Abdul Mannan Ferritin Health Hematology Hemostasis Hemostasis News Hemostasis Today Medicine
NewsFeed