January/2008

ANSWER 8=A

DISCUSSION: The patient does not have to be transfused since most clinicians would accept hemoglobin of 11 g/dl as adequate. The patient does not have classical iron deficiency anemia because the ferritin level is rather high. In the presence of anemia (low hemoglobin), decreased serum iron, and high ferritin one is inclined to consider a diagnosis of anemia of chronic disease. This can be confirmed by obtaining the level of soluble tranferrin receptor.