Iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia

Finberg et al. (2008) referred to this phenotype as iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia (IRIDA) and reviewed the key features: a congenital hypochromic, microcytic anemia; a very low mean corpuscular erythrocyte volume; a low transferrin saturation; abnormal iron absorption characterized by no hematologic improvement following treatment with oral iron; and abnormal iron utilization characterized by a sluggish, incomplete response to parenteral iron. The authors noted that although urinary levels of hepcidin (606464) are typically undetectable in individuals with iron deficiency, in 5 individuals with IRIDA urinary hepcidin/creatinine ratios were within or above the normal range. [from OMIM]