Which of the following is a characteristic finding in iron deficiency anemia?

In iron deficiency anemia, the body lacks sufficient iron to produce hemoglobin, which leads to a characteristic pattern of laboratory findings. The correct answer highlights that there are low levels of ferritin, low levels of iron, and elevated levels of total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) as well as transferrin.

Low ferritin indicates depleted iron stores in the body, reflecting that the iron supply is insufficient. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron; thus, when iron stores are low, ferritin levels decrease.

With low serum iron, one can see that the amount of iron available in the bloodstream is reduced, further substantiating the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia.

The increase in TIBC and transferrin occurs as a compensatory mechanism. When iron stores are depleted, the liver produces more transferrin to maximize the amount of iron that can be utilized. TIBC reflects the maximum amount of iron that can be bound by transferrin in the bloodstream, and it increases in conditions where iron is lacking, as the body attempts to capture any available iron.

Together, these findings (low ferritin, low iron, high TIBC, and high transferrin) paint a clear picture of iron deficiency anemia and help differentiate it