Comparison of Serum Iron Ferritin and Total Iron Binding Capacity in Patients with Iron Deficiency Anaemia and Anaemia of Chronic Disease

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and anaemia of chronic disease (ACD) involve impaired iron availability through different mechanisms. Serum iron, ferritin and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) provide complementary information for evaluating these conditions, although inflammation can complicate interpretation.

Aim: To compare serum iron, ferritin and TIBC between patients with IDA and those with ACD.

Materials and Methods: The draft hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study comprised 220 participants, including 110 patients with IDA and 110 with ACD. Serum iron, ferritin and TIBC were assessed and summarised as mean and standard deviation. Between-group comparisons were performed using Welch’s independent-samples t-test. Mean differences were reported with 95% confidence intervals, and a two-sided p value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean serum iron was lower in the IDA group than in the ACD group: 28.7 (9.6) versus 43.2 (13.8) µg/dL, with a mean difference of -14.50 µg/dL (95% CI: -17.66 to -11.34; p<0.001). Mean serum ferritin was also lower in IDA: 13.8 (5.7) versus 184.6 (61.3) ng/mL, with a mean difference of -170.80 ng/mL (95% CI: -182.43 to -159.17; p<0.001). Conversely, mean TIBC was higher in IDA: 426.8 (57.4) versus 238.6 (46.2) µg/dL, with a mean difference of 188.20 µg/dL (95% CI: 174.35-202.05; p<0.001).

Conclusion: The supplied comparison demonstrated lower serum iron and ferritin and higher TIBC in IDA than in ACD. Combined interpretation of these parameters supported biochemical characterisation of the two groups, but independent diagnostic performance was not established.