A 60-year-old man presents with worsening fatigue, pallor, and dizziness. He was initially suspected to have iron deficiency anemia, but his serum iron studies were normal. What could be the diagnosis?
While initial symptoms suggest iron deficiency anemia, the normal serum iron studies suggest a different diagnosis. One possibility is anemia of chronic disease (also known as anemia of inflammation). This is common in individuals with chronic illnesses such as infection, inflammatory conditions, or malignancy. The underlying condition often leads to alterations in iron metabolism which causes the anemia.