Iron stores
Cause or type	Ferritin	TIBC	Marrow Fe	Treatment
Iron deficiency	Low	High	Absent	Iron supplements; treat source of blood loss
Renal disease	Normal	Normal or low	Normal	Erythropoietin*
Anemia of chronic disease	Normal or high	Normal or low	Normal or increased	Underlying disease
Thalassemia minor	Normal	Normal	Normal	None
Myelodysplasia	Normal	Normal or low	Normal†	Supportive