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Detecting iron deficiency, correctly interpreting iron levels, and knowing when an iron infusion is medically indicated.
8 min.
Iron deficiency is one of the most common causes of fatigue, paleness, and reduced performance. It usually develops gradually and is reflected in typical iron levels in the blood count (ferritin, hemoglobin, transferrin saturation). Iron tablets are almost always sufficient – in certain situations, an iron infusion is the better solution.
✨ Key Information at a Glance
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause of anaemia worldwide (Camaschella, NEJM 2015).
It progresses in 3 stages: first the stores are depleted, only then does the haemoglobin level drop.
Ferritin is usually the first, most sensitive parameter – but must always be assessed in conjunction with inflammatory markers.
Tablets are the 1st choice of therapy. Infusion is indicated if tablets are not tolerated, are ineffective, or if a concomitant disease (e.g. heart failure, dialysis, chronic inflammatory bowel disease [CED]) is present.
Intravenous iron is generally well tolerated; hypersensitivity is rare, and with repeated administration of certain preparations, phosphate levels may decrease.
What is Iron Deficiency?
Iron is involved in practically every cell of the body – especially in oxygen transport in the blood and in energy production. The body cannot produce iron itself; daily loss must be compensated for through food (Federal Health Portal [Gesundheitsportal des Bundes], "Iron").
If intake is insufficient or if more iron is lost than absorbed, the iron stores empty first – without this necessarily showing in the blood count (MSD Manual, Professional Version; Camaschella, NEJM 2015).
Iron Deficiency Symptoms: How does it manifest?
Iron deficiency and fatigue are closely linked – in addition, the following often occur:
Fatigue and reduced physical capacity
Difficulty concentrating
Paleness
Hair loss, brittle nails
Restless legs (restless legs symptoms)
Headaches, dizziness
The Three Stages of Iron Deficiency
I · Iron depletion (Speichereisenmangel) — What happens: Stores empty, blood formation still supplied · Hemoglobin: normal
II · Iron-deficient erythropoiesis (Eisendefizitäre Erythropoese) — What happens: Blood formation no longer sufficiently supplied · Hemoglobin: still normal
III · Iron deficiency anemia (Eisenmangelanämie) — What happens: Hb drops below standard value (women < 12, men < 13 g/dl) · Hemoglobin: decreased
Source: MSD Manual (Professional Edition), Iron Deficiency Anemia, Camaschella, NEJM 2015
Which blood values indicate iron deficiency?
💡 Good to know
A normal Hb does not rule out iron deficiency — the stores may have been empty for a long time. The ferritin reference range depends on the laboratory; the values of the laboratory we use are listed in the table below. If ferritin is low, this indicates depleted iron stores.
⚠️ Caution with interpretation
Ferritin can be falsely elevated in cases of inflammation, infection, liver disease, hypothyroidism, or when taking the contraceptive pill. In unclear cases, TSAT or CHr as well as CRP are additionally used (the so-called "Thomas plot" approach).
Sources: MSD Manual (Professional Edition), Deutsches Ärzteblatt, New Parameters for Diagnostics
All figures apply to adults. Values for children and adolescents are deliberately not included. A reference range is not an iron deficiency threshold.
| Laboratory value | Adult reference range | Meaning | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haemoglobin (Hb) Notable | Men 13–17 g/dl · Women 12.5–15.0 g/dl | oxygen transport in the blood Falls only late — a normal Hb does not rule out iron deficiency. | |
| Ferritin Notable | Women 15–150 ng/ml · Men 30–400 ng/ml | fill level of the iron stores Falsely elevated in inflammation. The reference range is not an iron deficiency threshold — the threshold stored in the calculator is a different quantity. | |
| Transferrin saturation (TSAT) Notable | 16–45 % | iron loading in the blood The most important value alongside ferritin, especially when ferritin may be distorted by inflammation. | |
| Transferrin Borderline | Men 1.7–3.3 g/l (170–330 mg/dl) · Women 1.6–3.5 g/l (160–350 mg/dl) | transport protein for iron Rises in iron deficiency, tends to be lowered in inflammation. | Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — Transferrin (TF) For comparison, not the reference range shownAt this location the specialist database does not give a numerical range.AMBOSS — Transferrin (Fachzugang erforderlich) |
| MCV For information | 85–101 fl | mean volume of the red blood cells A low value fits with iron deficiency but is not proof — it also occurs in thalassaemia, for example. | Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — Erythrozyten-Indizes (MCV) For comparison, not the reference range shownSpecialist database, adults: 81–100 flAMBOSS — Erythrozytenindizes und Retikulozyten (Fachzugang erforderlich) |
| MCH For information | 26–34 pg | mean haemoglobin content per blood cell Like the MCV, it changes only late in the course of iron deficiency. | Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — Erythrozyten-Indizes (MCH) For comparison, not the reference range shownSpecialist database, adults: 27–34 pgAMBOSS — Erythrozytenindizes und Retikulozyten (Fachzugang erforderlich) |
| Reticulocytes For information | 0.5–1.5 % | young, newly formed red blood cells Show how actively the bone marrow is currently forming blood. | Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — Retikulozyten (RETR) For comparison, not the reference range shownSpecialist database, adults: 1–3 % (10–30 ‰)AMBOSS — Erythrozytenindizes und Retikulozyten (Fachzugang erforderlich) |
| Reticulocyte haemoglobin (CHr/RetHb) For information | no dedicated threshold | iron supply of current blood formation Shows the iron requirement almost in real time and remains largely unaffected by inflammation. No freely accessible adult reference range is available; it is therefore listed without a figure of its own. A comparison value from a specialist database is shown under “Show source”. | For comparison, not the reference range shownSpecialist database, adults: mindestens 29 pgAMBOSS — Retikulozytenhämoglobin (Fachzugang erforderlich) |
| CRP For information | below 10 mg/l | inflammation value for context Not an iron value, but important for the assessment: if the CRP is elevated, ferritin can turn out falsely high. | |
| Serum iron For information | Men 60–160 µg/dl · Women 40–150 µg/dl | snapshot of the iron in the blood Fluctuates widely over the course of the day and is not meaningful on its own. Ferritin and TSAT are used for the assessment. |
Adult reference range: Men 13–17 g/dl · Women 12.5–15.0 g/dl
Falls only late — a normal Hb does not rule out iron deficiency.Adult reference range: Women 15–150 ng/ml · Men 30–400 ng/ml
Falsely elevated in inflammation. The reference range is not an iron deficiency threshold — the threshold stored in the calculator is a different quantity.Adult reference range: 16–45 %
The most important value alongside ferritin, especially when ferritin may be distorted by inflammation.Adult reference range: Men 1.7–3.3 g/l (170–330 mg/dl) · Women 1.6–3.5 g/l (160–350 mg/dl)
Rises in iron deficiency, tends to be lowered in inflammation.Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — Transferrin (TF)For comparison, not the reference range shownAt this location the specialist database does not give a numerical range.AMBOSS — Transferrin (Fachzugang erforderlich)Adult reference range: 85–101 fl
A low value fits with iron deficiency but is not proof — it also occurs in thalassaemia, for example.Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — Erythrozyten-Indizes (MCV)For comparison, not the reference range shownSpecialist database, adults: 81–100 flAMBOSS — Erythrozytenindizes und Retikulozyten (Fachzugang erforderlich)Adult reference range: 26–34 pg
Like the MCV, it changes only late in the course of iron deficiency.Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — Erythrozyten-Indizes (MCH)For comparison, not the reference range shownSpecialist database, adults: 27–34 pgAMBOSS — Erythrozytenindizes und Retikulozyten (Fachzugang erforderlich)Adult reference range: 0.5–1.5 %
Show how actively the bone marrow is currently forming blood.Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — Retikulozyten (RETR)For comparison, not the reference range shownSpecialist database, adults: 1–3 % (10–30 ‰)AMBOSS — Erythrozytenindizes und Retikulozyten (Fachzugang erforderlich)Adult reference range: no dedicated threshold
Shows the iron requirement almost in real time and remains largely unaffected by inflammation. No freely accessible adult reference range is available; it is therefore listed without a figure of its own. A comparison value from a specialist database is shown under “Show source”.For comparison, not the reference range shownSpecialist database, adults: mindestens 29 pgAMBOSS — Retikulozytenhämoglobin (Fachzugang erforderlich)Adult reference range: below 10 mg/l
Not an iron value, but important for the assessment: if the CRP is elevated, ferritin can turn out falsely high.Adult reference range: Men 60–160 µg/dl · Women 40–150 µg/dl
Fluctuates widely over the course of the day and is not meaningful on its own. Ferritin and TSAT are used for the assessment.
Reference ranges can differ depending on the laboratory, measurement method, sex and clinical situation.
- [1] Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — Hämoglobin (HB)
- [2] Ihr Laborverbund in Wien — Ferritin, Version 3, gültig ab 05.05.2026
- [3] Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — Transferrinsättigung (TFS)
- [4] Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — Transferrin (TF)
- [5] AMBOSS — Transferrin (Fachzugang erforderlich)
- [6] Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — Erythrozyten-Indizes (MCV)
- [7] AMBOSS — Erythrozytenindizes und Retikulozyten (Fachzugang erforderlich)
- [8] Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — Erythrozyten-Indizes (MCH)
- [9] Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — Retikulozyten (RETR)
- [10] AMBOSS — Retikulozytenhämoglobin (Fachzugang erforderlich)
- [11] Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — CRP (C-reaktives Protein)
- [12] Gesundheitsportal des Bundes — Eisen (FE)
- [13] KDIGO 2026 — Anemia in CKD, Executive Summary
- [14] OEGGG 2022 — Eisenpapier
- [15] AWMF S2k — Restless-Legs-Syndrom
- [16] ESMO — Anaemia and iron deficiency in patients with cancer
Iron Deficiency Calculator – Check Your Values
Enter your current laboratory values to get an initial assessment of whether iron deficiency is likely. The more values you enter, the more precise the assessment.
Thresholds based on:
- MSD Manual (Profi-Ausgabe)
- Camaschella, NEJM 2015
- ESC 2023
- KDIGO 2026
- ECCO/Dignass 2015
- OEGGG 2022
- ESMO/Aapro 2018
- AWMF S2k RLS
This calculator serves exclusively for general information and self-assessment by healthy adults and patients of our practice. It is not a medical device, does not make a diagnosis and does not replace medical advice, examination or treatment. If you have health complaints, please contact your doctor.
Select age, sex and any known pre-existing condition (heart failure, renal insufficiency/dialysis, IBD, pregnancy, cancer, restless legs syndrome, COPD or none), then enter ferritin and haemoglobin (required) and, optionally, TSAT, transferrin, MCV, MCH, reticulocytes and reticulocyte haemoglobin (CHr/RetHb). The calculator automatically applies the matching disease-specific thresholds (see the conditions table above) and shows one of four assessments: no indication of iron deficiency · storage iron deficiency possible · functional iron deficiency possible · iron deficiency anaemia possible — each with the reasoning for the individual values.
⚠️ Important Notice
This calculator provides an estimate for rough guidance only and is neither a medical diagnosis nor a medical device. It is not a substitute for a medical examination. The final diagnosis can only be made by a physician based on medical history, physical examination, and, if necessary, further laboratory diagnostics.
Sources for the threshold values used: MSD Manual (Professional Edition), Camaschella, NEJM 2015, ESC/HFA 2023, KDIGO 2026, ECCO/Dignass 2015, OEGGG 2022, ESMO/Aapro 2018, AWMF S2k RLS
🧬 What does this mean for me?
"A ferritin value alone does not tell the whole story." The assessment takes into account:
Age and gender
Desire to have children or pregnancy
Potential sources of bleeding (e.g. menstrual bleeding, gastrointestinal tract)
Concomitant diseases (IBD, heart failure, renal insufficiency)
Previous tolerance of oral iron supplements
Other laboratory values (inflammation, renal function, phosphate)
"The assessment is carried out individually – tailored to your personal situation."
Who is particularly commonly affected?
Women of childbearing age: deficiency in approx. 20–35%
Pregnant women (third trimester): up to 85%
Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases: 35–90%
Heavy menstrual bleeding or gastrointestinal bleeding
Athletes, vegetarians/vegans, the elderly
Source: ebminfo.at
🤰 Iron Deficiency in Pregnancy and Family Planning
Iron requirements increase significantly during pregnancy; in the last trimester, up to 85% of pregnant women suffer from iron deficiency. When planning a pregnancy, a ferritin level of at least 30 ng/ml is targeted; in the second trimester, a drop below 30 ng/ml is considered the threshold for oral supplementation. Intravenous iron is only administered during pregnancy if clearly necessary, preferably in the second or third trimester.
Sources: ebminfo.at, OEGGG 2022, EMA
👵 Iron Deficiency in Older Age
Fatigue and paleness are often attributed to other causes in older age. A newly occurring iron deficiency should therefore always be a reason to search for a possible source of bleeding, rather than solely substituting it.
![Illustration: elderly couple in a medical consultation with their General Practitioner [Hausarzt], next to symbols representing exercise tolerance when climbing stairs, dizziness and fatigue, as well as nutrition, medication and check-up of medical findings.](https://framerusercontent.com/images/JsWcuKFVeSOjLfwgI458tPfvFQ.png?width=1448&height=1086)
Tablets or Iron Infusion?
Heart failure, dialysis, acute flare-up of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (CED), time pressure (surgery/pregnancy) — Recommendation: Infusion often preferred
Tablets poorly tolerated or insufficient absorption — Recommendation: Infusion appropriate
Mild/moderate deficiency, no urgency — Recommendation: Tablets (1st choice)
Sources: ebminfo.at, EMA
When is substitution beyond tablets appropriate?
The ESC guideline (2023 Focused Update, European Heart Journal) recommends intravenous iron for symptomatic heart failure with reduced or mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF/HFmrEF) and confirmed iron deficiency, in order to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life (class I, level of evidence A). In recently hospitalised patients, supplementation should be considered in order to reduce the risk of re-hospitalisation (class IIa, level of evidence A). The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kardiologie (DGK) confirms this; the Österreichische Gesellschaft für Kardiologie recommends regular screening of all heart failure patients.
Iron deficiency in heart failure is defined as: ferritin < 100 ng/ml, or ferritin 100–299 ng/ml with TSAT < 20 %.
✅ Conclusion
Iron substitution is a recognised therapeutic component in several chronic diseases — always based on a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis, never solely on the basis of symptoms. In inflammatory diseases, the ferritin threshold must be set higher because ferritin itself is an inflammatory marker.
Sources: ESC/HFA 2023, DGK Commentary, Journal für Kardiologie, KDIGO 2026, ECCO/Dignass 2015, OEGGG 2022, AWMF S2k RLS, ESMO/Aapro 2018
Risks and Side Effects of an Iron Infusion
Hypersensitivity reactions: possible but rare — therefore infusion under medical supervision.
Some preparations (especially iron(III) carboxymaltose) can lower phosphate levels with repeated administration.
Pregnancy: intravenous iron only when clearly necessary.
In the randomised PHOSPHARE-IBD trial in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, hypophosphataemia (serum phosphate < 2.0 mg/dl) occurred in 51.0 % (25/49) of those treated with ferric carboxymaltose, compared with 8.3 % (4/48) on ferric derisomaltose. These rates come from this trial population and cannot be transferred to every iron infusion. With repeated treatment, a phosphate check is therefore recommended, particularly in osteoporosis, vitamin D deficiency, IBD, heart failure, renal insufficiency, COPD or after bariatric surgery.
Sources: EMA, Zoller H et al., PHOSPHARE-IBD, Gut 2023;72(4):644–653, PMID 36343979, DOI 10.1136/gutjnl-2022-327897, ebminfo.at
You can find the practical procedure in our Medical Practice [Ordination] and appointment scheduling on the infusion therapy services page.
Whether the treatment can be billed via the health insurance fund depends on the medical indication. We will discuss this with you prior to the treatment.
⚠️ When should I consult a General Practitioner?
🚨 Please consult your General Practitioner (Hausarzt) promptly in the event of:
- Blood in the stool or black-coloured stool
- Unintentional weight loss
- Very heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
- Pronounced fatigue or shortness of breath on exertion
- During an infusion: skin rash, shortness of breath, dizziness — please report to the practice team immediately
Have unclear iron levels clinically assessed by a General Practitioner [Hausarzt]
Laboratory values are only one part of the picture. At our medical practice (Ordination) in Vienna-Floridsdorf, we discuss findings, symptoms, and medical history together and determine the next steps.
Iron Infusion Vienna – schedule an appointment now →Frequently asked questions about iron deficiency and iron infusion
No. Iron stores can already be empty before this shows up in the haemoglobin level — ferritin indicates it earlier (stage I, see the table above).
Not as a rule. Tablets remain the first-line treatment; an infusion is a targeted alternative in cases of intolerance, inadequate response or certain underlying conditions (see the quick check above).
It is used only when clearly necessary, and if possible not during the first third of the pregnancy. The decision is made individually by a doctor.
Depending on the situation, checks of the blood count, the ferritin level and – particularly with repeated treatment – the phosphate level may be advisable.
Iron stores refill quickly, usually within a few days. The haemoglobin level normally rises over several weeks; a noticeable improvement in fatigue and performance often sets in after a few weeks.
Ferritin is also an inflammatory marker and can be falsely elevated in infection, liver disease or chronic inflammation. Ferritin is therefore always assessed together with transferrin saturation (TSAT) and, where appropriate, CRP.
The infusion is given through an indwelling venous cannula and usually takes 15–30 minutes. It is carried out under medical supervision because – rarely – hypersensitivity reactions can occur.
Sources (24)
The adult reference ranges shown in the table come from the laboratory directory of „Ihr Laborverbund in Wien“.
- Ferritin — Referenzbereich Erwachsenehttps://parameterdatenbank.ihrlabor.at/public/document/828Link checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Ferritin reference range: women 15–150 ng/ml, men 30–400 ng/ml.
- Transferrin — Referenzbereich Erwachsenehttps://parameterdatenbank.ihrlabor.at/public/document/890Link checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Transferrin reference range of the local laboratory: 200–360 mg/dl (see the open point in the blood values section).
- Transferrinsättigung — Referenzbereich Erwachsenehttps://parameterdatenbank.ihrlabor.at/public/document/925Link checked on 19/09/2026Supports: TSAT reference range 16–45 %.
- Eisen — Referenzbereich Erwachsenehttps://parameterdatenbank.ihrlabor.at/public/document/827Link checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Serum iron reference range of the local laboratory: 33–193 µg/dl.
- Retikulozyten — Referenzbereichhttps://parameterdatenbank.ihrlabor.at/public/document/146Link checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Reticulocyte reference range from age 1: 0.7–2.0 %.
- Eisenmangelanämiehttps://www.msdmanuals.com/de/profi/h%C3%A4matologie/an%C3%A4mien-durch-verminderte-erythropoese/eisenmangelan%C3%A4mieLink checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Stage model of iron deficiency and the basics of laboratory diagnostics.
- Iron-Deficiency Anemia. N Engl J Med 2015;372(19):1832–1843https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1401038The publisher's site blocks automated requests — reachable in a browserSupports: Iron deficiency as the most common cause of anaemia; pathophysiology.
- Eisenmangelanämiehttps://www.gesundheit.gv.at/krankheiten/blut/anaemie/eisenmangel.htmlLink checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Plain-language description of symptoms and causes.
- Eisen — Bedarf, Quellen und Mangelhttps://www.gesundheit.gv.at/leben/ernaehrung/vitamine-mineralstoffe/spurenelemente/eisen.htmlLink checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Iron requirement, nutrition and risk groups.
- Neue Parameter zur Diagnostik von Eisenmangelzuständen: Retikulozytenhämoglobin und löslicher Transferrinrezeptorhttps://www.aerzteblatt.de/archiv/45682/Neue-Parameter-zur-Diagnostik-von-Eisenmangelzustaenden-Retikulozytenhaemoglobin-und-loeslicher-TransferrinrezeptorLink checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Role of reticulocyte haemoglobin and TSAT when ferritin is unclear.
- 2023 Focused Update of the 2021 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failurehttps://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/44/37/3627/7246292The publisher's site blocks automated requests — reachable in a browserSupports: Iron deficiency criteria and supplementation recommendation in heart failure.
- Kommentar zum Focused Update 2023 der ESC-Leitlinien zur Herzinsuffizienzhttps://leitlinien.dgk.org/files/2023_kommentar_esc_behandlung_akute_chronische_herzinsuffizienz.pdfLink checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Freely accessible commentary on the ESC criteria in heart failure.
- European consensus on the diagnosis and management of iron deficiency and anaemia in inflammatory bowel diseaseshttps://academic.oup.com/ecco-jcc/article/9/3/211/361529The publisher's site blocks automated requests — reachable in a browserSupports: Ferritin and TSAT thresholds in inflammatory bowel disease.
- Management of anaemia and iron deficiency in patients with cancerhttps://www.esmo.org/guidelines/esmo-clinical-practice-guideline-anaemia-and-iron-deficiency-in-patients-with-cancerLink checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Absolute and functional iron deficiency in cancer.
- Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Anemia in CKD — Executive Summaryhttps://kdigo.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/KDIGO-2026-Anemia-in-CKD-Guideline-Executive-Summary.pdfLink checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Screening and supplementation thresholds in chronic kidney disease and dialysis.
- Diagnostik und Therapie der Eisenmangelanämie in Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe (Eisenpapier)https://oeggg.at/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Eisenpaper-OEGGG-GebFrau.pdfLink checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Approach to iron deficiency in pregnancy and when trying to conceive.
- S2k-Leitlinie Restless-Legs-Syndrom, Registernummer 030-081https://register.awmf.org/assets/guidelines/030-081l_S2k_Restless-Legs-Syndrom_2026-03.pdfLink checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Ferritin and TSAT thresholds in restless legs syndrome.
- DFP/CME: Eisentherapiehttps://www.kup.at/kup/pdf/15320.pdfLink checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Austrian commentary on intravenous iron therapy.
- Intravenous iron-containing medicinal products (Referral)https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/referrals/intravenous-iron-containing-medicinal-productsLink checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Monitoring because of possible hypersensitivity reactions with i.v. iron.
- Hypophosphataemia following ferric derisomaltose and ferric carboxymaltose in patients with iron deficiency anaemia due to inflammatory bowel disease (PHOSPHARE-IBD)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36343979/Link checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Frequency of hypophosphataemia after iron infusion depending on the preparation.
- Hypophosphatämie nach Eiseninfusionhttps://ebminfo.at/antwortdokumente/Innere_Medizin_09_2025_Eiseninfusion_Hypophosphataemie.pdfLink checked on 19/09/2026Supports: Guidance on phosphate checks after repeated iron infusion.
These figures are comparison values. They do not replace the local reference ranges named above.
- Erythrozytenindizes und Retikulozytenhttps://next.amboss.com/de/article/ln0vtg#Y8437cd5c146dd63c743d0d1b57092cc8Specialist access required, not verifiable without a loginSupports: Comparison values MCV 81–100 fl, MCH 27–34 pg, reticulocytes 1–3 % (10–30 ‰).
- Retikulozytenhämoglobinhttps://next.amboss.com/de/article/pT0L72#Ydf960f34da39cc54a500f9004fcb510aSpecialist access required, not verifiable without a loginSupports: Comparison value reticulocyte haemoglobin at least 29 pg.
- Transferrinhttps://next.amboss.com/de/article/Ln0wFg#yacdMa0Specialist access required, not verifiable without a loginSupports: No numerical reference range is given at this location.
💡 Take-home Message
Iron deficiency develops in stages and often remains undetected for a long time. Ferritin is the most sensitive early indicator, but it must be evaluated in connection with inflammatory markers. In cases of heart failure, renal insufficiency, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, during pregnancy, and in restless legs syndrome, iron substitution is an established, guideline-supported treatment component. Tablets remain the first choice; an infusion is a well-tolerated alternative when medically justified by a doctor.
Medical Advice
The information on this website is intended for general guidance only and does not replace an individual medical consultation, examination, or diagnosis. In the event of symptoms or health-related questions, please consult your physician.
🧭 What are the next steps?
1
Understand medical report
2
Assess your personal risk
3
Set individual goals
4
Monitor progress
5
If needed, plan treatment together