Differentiation between the anemia of chronic disease and iron-deficiency anemia by laboratory measures of iron status.
| Laboratory Measure . | Anemia of Chronic Disease . | Iron-Deficiency Anemia . | 
|---|---|---|
| Plasma iron concentration | Reduced to normal | Reduced | 
| Plasma transferrin concentration | Reduced to normal | Increased | 
| Transferrin saturation | Reduced to normal | Reduced | 
| Plasma ferritin | Normal to increased | Reduced | 
| Plasma Transferrin Receptor | Normal | Increased | 
| Transferrin receptor/log ferritin | Low (<1)* | high (>4) | 
| Bold letters indicate the condition which is observed more frequently. | ||
| Laboratory Measure . | Anemia of Chronic Disease . | Iron-Deficiency Anemia . | 
|---|---|---|
| Plasma iron concentration | Reduced to normal | Reduced | 
| Plasma transferrin concentration | Reduced to normal | Increased | 
| Transferrin saturation | Reduced to normal | Reduced | 
| Plasma ferritin | Normal to increased | Reduced | 
| Plasma Transferrin Receptor | Normal | Increased | 
| Transferrin receptor/log ferritin | Low (<1)* | high (>4) | 
| Bold letters indicate the condition which is observed more frequently. | ||