Table 1

Evaluation of iron status using the intensive histological grading method

Iron in fragment*Iron in macrophage†Iron in erythroblast‡Iron status diagnosis
PresentPresentPresentNormal
(No iron deficiency)
PresentAbsentPresent
PresentPresentAbsentFunctional iron deficiency (ACD)
PresentAbsentAbsent
AbsentPresentPresentIron stores deficiency
(IDA)
AbsentAbsentPresent
AbsentPresentAbsentFunctional and iron stores deficiency
AbsentAbsentAbsent

  • *Positive fragment iron: fragment grade ≥2.

  • †Positive macrophage iron: iron present in a reticular cell.

  • ‡Positive erythroblast iron: iron present in >30% of erythroblasts.

  • ACD, anaemia of chronic disease; IDA, iron deficiency anaemia.