In the evaluation of iron deficiency anemia, what happens to transferrin levels?

In the context of iron deficiency anemia, transferrin levels are elevated. Transferrin is a glycoprotein that binds and transports iron in the bloodstream. When there is an insufficient amount of iron available, as seen in iron deficiency anemia, the body responds by increasing the production of transferrin to maximize iron absorption from the diet and to enhance the transport of any available iron to the tissues.

This increase in transferrin levels reflects the body’s compensatory mechanism to address the low iron stores. In iron deficiency anemia, the serum ferritin—indicative of iron storage—decreases, while transferrin levels rise as a part of the body's response to the deficiency.

In this scenario, increased transferrin levels are associated with iron deficiency, making it a useful marker for the diagnosis of this condition. Other factors, such as inflammation, can lead to variations that affect transferrin levels, but in the case of pure iron deficiency anemia, the consistent finding is an elevation in transferrin.