IRON

• Men- 59- 158 ug/dl
• Female -37-145 ug/dl

Pediatric Normal range –

• New born- 100-200 ug/dl
• Infant- 40-100 ug/dl
• Children-50-120ug/dl

• Iron is a trace element in biologic systems, making up only 0.004% of the body’s mass. It is an essential component or cofactor of numerous metabolic reactions.
• Iron plays an essential role as a structural component of haemoglobin. Fe++ is responsible for oxygen carrying capacity. Without sufficient iron available to the RBC precursors, normal erythropoiesis cannot take place and anaemia develops. 
• There are different tests that measure the body’s iron levels and storage, viz .Total Iron binding capacity, Ferritin tests and Transferrin tests.

• When haemoglobin and haematocrit is low and RBCs are microcytic and hypochromic ( smaller and paler than normal)
• When there are s/s of Iron deficiency anaemia( Fatigue, dizziness, Head ache , pallor , weakness)
• s/s of Iron overload ( Fatigue , joint pain , Weight loss, lack of energy, Abdominal pain , loss of sex drive , organ damage such as in heart and liver)

• Hemochromatosis
• Hemolysis
• Haemolytic anaemia
• Hemosiderosis
• Hepatitis
• Hepatic necrosis
• Ineffective erythropoiesis( Vit B12 , Vit B6 Deficiency)
• Iron poisoning
• Multiple transfusions

• Inadequate absorption of iron
• Insufficient dietary iron
• Pregnancy
• Chronic gastrointestinal blood loss
• Chronic heavy menstrual bleeding
• Chronic Inflammatory conditions viz. Cancer ,Auto immune diseases.