Laboratory findings most characteristic of hereditary hemochromatosis include which combination?

Laboratory findings most characteristic of hereditary hemochromatosis include which combination?

• A. Decreased ferritin and decreased transferrin saturation
• B. Increased ferritin and increased transferrin saturation
• C. Normal ferritin with decreased transferrin saturation
• D. Decreased ferritin and increased transferrin saturation

Answer: (B)

Hereditary hemochromatosis causes excess iron absorption, leading to iron overload. Ferritin reflects stored iron, so stores rise and ferritin increases. Transferrin saturation shows how much transferrin is bound by iron in the blood; with iron overload, a larger fraction of transferrin is saturated, so transferrin saturation also increases. This combination—elevated ferritin and elevated transferrin saturation—is the pattern most characteristic of the condition. It helps distinguish iron overload from iron deficiency, where ferritin and transferrin saturation are both low.

Hereditary hemochromatosis causes excess iron absorption, leading to iron overload. Ferritin reflects stored iron, so stores rise and ferritin increases. Transferrin saturation shows how much transferrin is bound by iron in the blood; with iron overload, a larger fraction of transferrin is saturated, so transferrin saturation also increases. This combination—elevated ferritin and elevated transferrin saturation—is the pattern most characteristic of the condition. It helps distinguish iron overload from iron deficiency, where ferritin and transferrin saturation are both low.