Conclusion
Serum iron profile should be routinely measured in all patients with
microcytic anemia. BTM may often be erroneously diagnosed as IDA, and
should be suspected in any patient unresponsive to iron therapy.
Hemochromatosis should be considered in anemic individuals with high
serum transferrin saturation. Sometimes BTM may be accompanied by
coexisting HFE gene mutations, which aggravate iron overload on
the background of β-thalassemia.