Transferrin Saturation

Also written as TSAT.

In anaemia of chronic disease the transferrin saturation is increased

What our notes say

• In anaemia of chronic disease the transferrin saturation is increased (Internal Medicine End of Semester CAT (MBChB 4): haematology and renal, 30 MCQs )
• In anaemia of chronic disease iron is locked in stores by hepcidin, so serum iron and transferrin saturation are low or normal, not raised. (Internal Medicine End of Semester CAT (MBChB 4): haematology and renal, 30 MCQs )
• Absorption is up‑regulated by low hepcidin. — In iron‑deficiency anaemia, ferritin is low and transferrin saturation falls; the student should explain why oral iron works only when hepcidin is suppressed. (Approach to anaemia)
• In anaemia of chronic disease the transferrin saturation is increaseds (HEMAT IMED PAPER)
• In inflammation (IL‑6 driven) hepcidin rises → iron sequestration → anaemia of chronic disease. — High ferritin with low transferrin saturation suggests functional iron deficiency; the examiner may ask how to differentiate from true iron deficiency. (Approach to anaemia)
• Net effect: ↓ serum ferritin & transferrin saturation → ↓ iron delivered to marrow → impaired haemoglobin synthesis → microcytic, hypochromic red cells → anaemia. (Iron-deficiency anaemia)

Study material on Transferrin Saturation

• Iron-deficiency anaemia
• Anemia
• Approach to anaemia

Related topics

• Total Iron Binding Capacity
• Anaemia of Chronic Disease
• Hereditary Spherocytosis
• Erythropoiesis
• Mean Corpuscular Volume
• Thalassaemia
• Methylmalonic Acid
• Iron Deficiency Anaemia
• Coombs Test
• Megaloblastic Anaemia