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33 Yo F No Significant PMH. Worsened Fatigue Recently. Platelets
Question: 33 yo F no significant PMH. Worsened fatigue recently. Platelets have intermittently been about 450k but less than 500k, and sometimes with giant platelets. But main question is- ferritin is 17 but normal CBC, other than polychromasia. Everything I have read has said that polychromasia only occurs with iron REPLETION, not depletion. TIBC and iron were not drawn. Does polychromasia occur in iron deficiency without anemia, or does the polychromasia make you think about something else instead?
Brief Answer:
I would not worry about polychromasia here
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
Polychromasia is not usually a feature of iron deficiency. It is a marker of earlier release of red cells from bone marrow. Usually seen in hemolytic anemia, blood loss or replacement of marrow by some other cells.
However, in your case, CBC is normal so all these causes are ruled out. Iron deficiency is definitely there as shown by low ferritin but hemoglobin production is normal. I would recommend serum iron and TIBC too. Some iron supplements should be provided. But I would not worry too much about polychromasia at this stage.
Hope this helps.
Regards
I would not worry about polychromasia here
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
Polychromasia is not usually a feature of iron deficiency. It is a marker of earlier release of red cells from bone marrow. Usually seen in hemolytic anemia, blood loss or replacement of marrow by some other cells.
However, in your case, CBC is normal so all these causes are ruled out. Iron deficiency is definitely there as shown by low ferritin but hemoglobin production is normal. I would recommend serum iron and TIBC too. Some iron supplements should be provided. But I would not worry too much about polychromasia at this stage.
Hope this helps.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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