Low ferritin with normal hemoglobin, a common neglected and hidden hematological disorder

To highlight the clinical significance of low ferritin with normal hemoglobin in young adult women and to raise awareness aboutthis disorder among physiciansand general practitioners.This pathology is easy to be missed since normal CBC or hemoglobin will give false feeling of assurance about Iron store in patients with longstanding generalized weakness of unknown etiology.A descriptive study of120 femalepatients who were consulting the outpatientInternal medicine clinics at Al-Ramadi Teaching Hospital, peripheral blood samples were obtained for analysis of complete blood count and serum iron status.Fifty (41.7%) of all patients had ferritin less than 10 ng/mL indicating severe iron deficiency.Of the 120 patients with iron deficiency Fatigue is the commonest symptom that present in ninety-five patients (79.2%), followed by hair loss 88(73.3%)and dizziness 84(70.0%), headache 79 (65.8% ), poor concentration 74 (61.7% ), palpitation 72(60.0% ) , chest pain 67 (55.8% ) and legs pain (47.5%).Heavy menstrual bleeding is significantly associated with low ferritin level in younger age group (<=25 years) p=0.001. While poor nutrition is a significant risk factor among older age group (>25 years) p= 0.000. In conclusion, low ferritin with normal hemoglobin is a hidden disorder which Ghazzay et al (2020): Low ferritin with normal hemoglobin Feb 2021 Vol. 24 Issue 2 http://doi.org/10.36295/ASRO.2021.24225 Health Medicine & Public Annals of Tropical needs to be addressed bygeneral practitioners and physicians when diagnosis and treatmentis considered.It is accepted that individuals with low serum ferritin with normal hemoglobin or CBC will develop iron-deficiency anemia in the weeks or months following diagnosis, thus, evaluation of iron storage in at-risk patients should prompt early initiation of irontherapy and relief of symptoms.