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Topics:
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology • Internal Medicine • Anemia • Hematology • Pediatric Hematology • Iron Homeostasis
What is your ferritin threshold to prescribe iron to female adolescent athletes who have symptomatic iron deficiency without anemia?
What is the ideal approach for female adolescent athletes if they have complaints of fatigue and dizziness and are diagnosed with mild iron deficiency without anemia? Do you have a cut-off for serum ferritin to decide on an iron supplement (ferritin <30 vs <50)?
Answer from: Medical Oncologist at Academic Institution
Since ferritin should be truly reflective of iron levels as we should not expect elevated hepcidin levels in a young athlete. There, I would use 30 ng/mL which has a 98% specificity and 92% sensitivity for absent marrow hemosiderin. Also, since there is expected ongoing iron loss (0.6 mg/L of sweat ...
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