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.