Iron Deficiency-More Than Just Anemia: A Literature Review.

Abstract

Iron deficiency (ID) is a global public health concern, as it can be a prodrome of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies, exacerbate chronic conditions, and lead to an overall decreased quality of life. Despite being the most prevalent nutritional deficiency, it remains underdiagnosed by many healthcare professionals. Misconceptions regarding the clinical and laboratory manifestations of ID lead to delayed or missed diagnoses, contributing to poor patient outcomes. Though anemia is a commonly known consequence of ID, there are additional consequences that remain underrecognized by the medical community, including vague signs and symptoms, such as fatigue, depression, and abnormalities in white blood cell and platelet counts. A thorough understanding of the pathophysiology connecting ID to white blood cell and platelet dyscrasias is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. This review aims to highlight existing gaps in physicians' ability to diagnose ID and the underrecognized laboratory presentations of ID without anemia.