American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Practice Exam 2026 - Free ABFM Practice Questions and Study Guide

The identification of iron deficiency, particularly in the context of chronic kidney disease (CKD), is crucial for proper patient management. An important indicator of iron deficiency is low ferritin levels, as ferritin serves as a marker of the body's iron stores. When ferritin is low, it suggests that the body's iron stores are depleted, which can lead to iron deficiency anemia.

In addition to low ferritin, a low mean corpuscular volume (MCV) value—typically less than 80 femtoliters—indicates microcytic anemia, which is often associated with iron deficiency. In CKD patients, it’s essential to monitor these parameters carefully because they can exhibit alterations in their hematological profile.

Hence, the combination of low ferritin and MCV less than 80 is a classic laboratory finding indicating iron deficiency anemia, especially relevant in CKD patients. This set of results helps healthcare providers diagnose and differentiate iron deficiency from other types of anemia that may be present in these patients, facilitating appropriate treatment strategies.