What laboratory markers are expected in iron deficiency anemia?

In iron deficiency anemia, the body lacks sufficient iron to produce hemoglobin, leading to several characteristic changes in laboratory markers. The correct answer reflects this profile accurately: there is decreased serum iron due to the deficiency, and because the body attempts to compensate, transferrin levels increase. Transferrin is a protein that transports iron in the blood, and when iron is low, the liver produces more transferrin to maximize iron transport. Ferritin, which stores iron, typically decreases in iron deficiency since the body has depleted its iron reserves.

Thus, the expected markers in iron deficiency anemia include decreased serum iron, increased transferrin, and decreased ferritin. This combination highlights the body's response to a true deficiency in iron and its efforts to increase iron transport capacity while reflecting reduced stored iron. The accurate interpretation of these markers is essential for diagnosing and understanding iron deficiency anemia effectively.