New Hematology Guidelines Lower Thresholds to Catch Undiagnosed Iron Deficiency
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) has released its first standardized guidelines for diagnosing iron deficiency, aiming to address widespread underdiagnosis in the U.S. The new recommendations lower the ferritin threshold for deficiency, particularly for women with heavy menstrual periods, to ensure earlier detection and treatment. Experts note that while iron deficiency affects nearly one-third of U.S. adults, it is often missed because standard blood tests do not measure ferritin levels, leading to untreated symptoms like fatigue and cognitive issues.
