Which of these measures iron deficiency anaemia?
- a. High iron binding
- b. low iron binding
- c. high MCV
- d. High Hb count
- e. Large Blood cell size
Iron deficiency anaemia is when the blood has a low number of red blood cells or a low amount of haemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in the blood. This can cause symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, pale skin, and shortness of breath.
Some of the indicators of iron deficiency anaemia are:
- Low iron binding. This means that the blood has a low level of transferrin protein, which binds and transports iron in the blood. Also, Low iron binding indicates that the body has a low iron supply.
- Low MCV. This stands for mean corpuscular volume, which is the average size of red blood cells. Low MCV means that the red blood cells are smaller than normal, a condition called microcytic anaemia. So, This is often caused by iron deficiency, as iron is needed for the production of haemoglobin and red blood cells.
- Low Hb count. This is the amount of haemoglobin in the blood. Haemoglobin is the protein that carries oxygen in the red blood cells. A low Hb count means that the blood has a reduced oxygen-carrying capacity, which can lead to symptoms of anaemia.
Therefore, the correct answer is b. low iron binding.
The other options are not reliable measures of iron deficiency anemia, as they can be influenced by other factors or conditions. For example:
- High iron binding. This means that the blood has a high transferrin level, indicating that the body is trying to increase its iron uptake. However, other conditions can cause iron deficiency, such as inflammation, infection, liver disease, or pregnancy.
- High MCV. This means that the red blood cells are larger than normal, a condition called macrocytic anaemia. B12 or folate deficiency, alcohol abuse, liver disease, or certain medications can cause this.
- High Hb count. This is the amount of haemoglobin in the blood. A high Hb count can indicate that the blood is more concentrated, which can be caused by dehydration, smoking, living at high altitudes, or certain blood disorders.
- Large blood cell size. This is another way of expressing MCV, which is the average size of red blood cells. Large blood cell size can indicate macrocytic anaemia, which is not caused by iron deficiency
