Alternative Names & Classifications:
Sideropenia (CLINICAL)
Description
Sideropenia occurs when the body's primary stored iron reserves (measured via serum ferritin) drop significantly, but circulating hemoglobin levels remain just above the threshold for diagnosing formal clinical anemia. This "hidden" deficiency affects the myriad of iron-dependent enzymes throughout the central nervous and muscular systems long before red blood cell production is noticeably impacted. Patients suffer from profound, unexplained fatigue and neurological symptoms despite seemingly normal basic blood panels.