The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast REBOOT: #471 Iron Deficiency Anemia with Dr. Tom DeLoughery
Oct 27, 2025
In this discussion, Dr. Tom DeLoughery, a seasoned hematologist at Oregon Health & Science University, dives into the intricacies of iron deficiency anemia. He highlights the importance of ferritin as the primary iron test and shares insights on dietary influences on iron absorption. Tom differentiates between iron deficiency and thalassemia using clever CBC metrics. He also discusses management strategies, including oral versus IV iron, and when to refer patients to a specialist. Throughout, he emphasizes the impact of menstrual history on diagnosis and treatment.
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Running And Reading After Hip Replacement
- Tom DeLoughery runs five miles daily and returned to running after hip replacement.
- He reads widely and has started exploring fiction, showing his off-duty interests.
Turning Rejection Into Opportunity
- Tom missed becoming chief resident and used that setback to start fellowship earlier and do extra research.
- He frames failures as unexpected trips that can lead to better paths.
Narrow Microcytosis Differential
- Use reticulocyte count to separate production vs loss; a rising retic points to bleeding or hemolysis.
- For microcytosis the main causes are thalassemia, iron deficiency, anemia of chronic disease, and sideroblastic anemia.
