In patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA), which aspect of blood may actually be increased?

In patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA), the red cell distribution width (RDW) is often increased. RDW measures the variation in size of red blood cells (erythrocytes). In IDA, there is typically a presence of both small (microcytic) red blood cells due to low iron levels, and occasionally larger (macrocytic) red blood cells if the body is attempting to compensate for the anemia. This variance in cell size leads to a widening of the distribution, therefore causing an increase in RDW.

An elevated RDW in patients with IDA can be a helpful indicator in diagnosing the condition, as it suggests variability in red blood cell size, highlighting the different stages and responses of red blood cell production in the context of iron deficiency.