Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia.
It is usually the result of blood loss but may occasionally be secondary to iron malabsorption. Serum iron is classically decreased in iron deficiency but is also low in acute and chronic inflammatory and neoplastic states. It quantifies transferrin in terms of the amount of iron it can bind and is reported as percent saturation. Classically, TIBC is elevated in iron deficiency, pregnancy, and by anovulatory agents. Because transferrin levels are depressed in patient's who are malnourished or who have chronic disease states, it may be normal in many patients who are iron deficient.