does
mobilization
from body’s stores occur in a state of
negative Fe balance. The main laboratory
finding is low ferritin level in absence of
inflammation whereas
serum Fe, MCV and MCH are still normal.
Ferritin belongs to acute phase reactant
proteins, so in inflammatory disorders
normal ferritin level does not exclude ID. In
this case, the investigation includes TSAT,
which reflects the Fe availability to erythroid
precursors.