Iron deficiency anemia

A microcytic anemia (MCV <80) that is due to iron deficiency. Iron deficiency commonly results from chronic blood loss plus insufficient dietary intake. The blood loss can be either from menstrual bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding from diverticuli, GI neoplasms, etc. Typically the lab values that correlate with iron deficiency are a low ferritin, saturation index (Fe/TIBC) of <10%, elevated TIBC, and low hepcidin. Additionally, the blood smear shows microcytic hypochromic red cells, ovalocytes called "pencil cells" (sometimes), with anisocytosis, reflected by a high RDW.