What Causes Abnormal Total Iron Binding Capacity?

Abnormal total iron binding capacity can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'needs attention' to 'life-threatening'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose abnormal total iron binding capacity, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "abnormal total iron binding capacity" as a symptom. Here are three possibilities:

Hemochromatosis
Cirrhosis Of The Liver
Iron Deficiency Anemia

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

nails turning white towards the ends

white inside lower eyelids

low ferritin levels

itchy skin

nails that are mostly white

being in mid-pregnancy

moderate right lumbar pain

fatigue after slight exertion

edema of the abdomen

light body hair

low sperm count

microcytic red cells

... and more than 20 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of abnormal total iron binding capacity:

Cause	Probability	Status
Iron Deficiency Anemia	96%	Confirm
Hemochromatosis	26%	Unlikely
Cirrhosis Of The Liver	4%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate having had recent lab tests, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

Iron, TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity). Unit: ug/dL [umol/L]

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ Under 150 [26.9]
→ 150-239 [26.9-42.8]
→ 240-450 [42.9-80.6] (normal)
→ Over 450 [80.6]

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate very low TIBC, low TIBC, normal TIBC or elevated TIBC, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Cirrhosis of the Liver

Iron Deficiency Anemia

While TIBC is commonly elevated in cases of iron deficiency anemia, it is also increased through the use of oral contraceptives and in pregnancy, blood loss and acute liver damage.

... and also rule out issues such as:

Hemochromatosis (Iron overload)

While low TIBC is commonly explained by the presence of hemochromatosis, it can also be caused by hypoproteinemia from malnutrition, anemia with infection and chronic disease, and nephrosis.

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