Iron deficiency anemia pathophysiology: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 15:27, 18 September 2012

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

In the human body, iron is present in all cells and has several vital functions such as:
- A carrier of oxygen to the tissues from the lungs in the form of hemoglobin (Hb)
- Facilitator of oxygen use and storage in the muscles as myoglobin
- Transport medium for electrons within the cells in the form of cytochromes
- Integral part of enzyme reactions in various tissues.
Total body iron averages approximately 3.8 g in men and 2.3 g in women.

There are several mechanisms that control human iron metabolism and safeguard against iron deficiency.
The main regulatory mechanism is situated in the gastrointestinal tract.
When loss of iron is not sufficiently compensated by adequate intake after some time that is determined by the state of body iron storage, iron deficiency develops.
Too little iron can interfere with these vital functions and lead to morbidity and mortality. The direct consequence of iron deficiency is iron deficiency anemia.

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 ==Pathophysiology==
-'''Iron deficiency''' ([[sideropenia]]) is the most common known form of [[nutritional deficiency]]. Too little iron can interfere with these vital functions and lead to [[morbidity]] and [[death|mortality]]. The direct consequence of iron deficiency is [[iron deficiency anemia]]. Groups that are most prone to developing this disease are children and [[pre-menopausal]] women.
+* There are several mechanisms that control [[human iron metabolism]] and safeguard against iron deficiency.
+* The main regulatory mechanism is situated in the gastrointestinal tract.
+* When loss of iron is not sufficiently compensated by adequate intake after some time that is determined by the state of body iron storage, iron deficiency develops.
+* Too little iron can interfere with these vital functions and lead to [[morbidity]] and [[death|mortality]]. The direct consequence of iron deficiency is [[iron deficiency anemia]].
 ==References==