Anaemias - reviewed by Dr. Goljan

[dchaos_g]

Listening to Dr. Goljan's lectures while scouring Robbins, Harrisons etc. for info on the anaemias, I made some nice tables that may help you review the topic.

[md90]

thank you for sharing.. greatly appreciate it...

[student-2]

Cheers man!

[swimguy23]

Originally Posted by dchaos_g

Listening to Dr. Goljan's lectures while scouring Robbins, Harrisons etc. for info on the anaemias, I made some nice tables that may help you review the topic.

nice post dude.....dont forget this stuff when youre studying for step 2

[IMG SURVIVOR]

It is a very informative table

thank you

[coke]

thanks a lot

[maixungphong]

Thanks a million.

What is the best test to see if I have iron deficiency anemia without getting the whole panel of ferritin, transferrin, serum iron?
Is it serum iron?

[md90]

Originally Posted by maixungphong

....What is the best test to see if I have iron deficiency anemia without getting the whole panel of ferritin, transferrin, serum iron? Is it serum iron?

I'm thinking that it's serum ferritin which will be decreased OR the TIBC which will be increased... am NOT 100%.. if anyone else knows, please post and why...

thank you

[md90]

M. SURBEY, MD, of Surrey, BC, wonders, "Is there a single best test for determining iron-deficiency anemia? Must we do both hemoglobin and serum ferritin?"

I assume you really meant serum iron, not hemoglobin, because hemoglobin and ferritin have nothing to do with each other. The investigation of iron-deficiency anemia was discussed in the March 2000 issue of Parkhurst Exchange, beginning on page 115. The tests available for investigation of iron deficiency are: *serum ferritin; *serum iron and iron saturation (from total iron-binding capacity); *free erythrocyte protoporphyrin; *examination of iron stain of the bone marrow aspirate. The choice of test depends on the patient's history, physical examination and associated conditions. To diagnose iron deficiency, you don't need both serum ferritin and serum iron saturation. Neither will give you the answer in all cases, but serum ferritin is more likely to provide the diagnosis than serum iron and iron saturation. If the patient has microcytic anemia and serum ferritin is low or low-normal, this confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency. Keep in mind, however, that serum ferritin may rise if the patient has an infection, inflammation or malignancy. In iron deficiency associated with such conditions, serum ferritin may end up being normal. To make things more complicated, the same conditions also affect serum iron and iron saturation. Consequently, if serum ferritin doesn't provide you with the diagnosis, testing for serum iron and iron saturation won't either. These tests are needed to diagnose iron poisoning or iron overload, but I never order them to investigate anemia. M

http://www.parkhurstexchange.com/qa/.../2003-02-18.qa

I had to make sure that I was right, wrong, or "barking up the wrong tree".. therefore I looked up the "best test" and find this... hope that this helps... thank you for the question..