IDA case report

A 25-year-old female presents to her primary care physician (PCP) complaining of fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath during minimal activity. Family members noticed her pale appearance and the patient reported thinning and brittleness of hair and fingernails (fig.1a). Symptoms have progressively worsened over the past few months. On examination, pale mucosal membranes and conjunctivae are observed, while the patient denies pain but mentions intermittent dryness and soreness of her tongue (fig.1b). Laboratory tests revealed a Hb of 6 g/sdL (12-15.5 g/dL), low MCV of 58 fL (80-100 fL), serum iron-40 mcg/dL (60-170 μg/dL), total iron-binding capacity-300 μg/dL (240-450 μg/dL), ferritin-11 ng/mL (12-150 ng/mL), 1and transferrin saturation (15%).