[Economic assessment of iron deficiency. Replacement of ferritin and serum iron by other parameters].

Economic assessment of iron deficiency. Replacement of serum iron and ferritin by other parameters. Serum iron and ferritin are still widely used parameters for the assessment of iron deficiency, in spite of their poor diagnostic performance. Compared to the combined use of ferritin, zinc protoporphyrin and soluble transferrin receptors an increase of the percentage of hypochromic erythrocytes (PEH) was found to be highly sensitive and specific for iron deficiency. We suggest to use it in a two phase strategy. Normal PEH excludes iron deficiency. Increased PEH may be confirmed by zinc protoporphyrin and/or soluble transferrin receptors.