Diagnostic Criteria for Iron Deficiency in Coexistent Iron and Vitamin B₁₂ Deficiency

Abstract

Total iron-binding capacity, serum iron, transferrin saturation, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration values were used to detect iron deficiency in 44 partially gastrectomized patients known to be deficient in vitamin B₁₂. An abnormally high total iron-binding capacity was the most frequent peripheral blood abnormality and was found in iron-deficient patients although serum iron and transferrin saturation were normal.