Background: Several changes in platelet parameters have been reported in Iron deficiency anemia. But underlying mechanism between iron metabolism and megakaryopoiesis is not yet clear. Hence the aim of the study is to evaluate relation between iron and platelet parameters in women with IDA. Materials and Methods: Sixty women with mean age of 33 ± 11 (16 – 78) years with IDA were studied. The relationship between serum iron parameters such as iron, ironbinding capacity, iron saturation and ferritin and platelet parameters such as platelet counts, platelet crit, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and large platelet (LPLT) were evaluated by using Pearson correlation and stepwise logistic regression tests. Results: Thrombocytosis and thrombocytopenia were noted about (77.46% and 22.54% ) respectively. Platelet counts were inversely correlated with serum iron and transferrin saturation (p<0.05). Other iron parameter revealed no significant relationship with any platelet parameters. There was a linear relationship between platelet counts and platelet crit (p<0.001) but inverse relationships betweenplatelet counts and both mean platelet volume and ironsaturation (p<0.001, for both). Also there were a linear relationship between platelet distribution width and mean platelet volume (p<0.001) and an inverse correlationbetween platelet distribution width, Mean platelet volume, Platelet crit with both mean corpuscular volume and Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration p<O.O01). Platelet crit was linearly correlated with platelet count mean platelet volume, and LPLT (p<0.05). There is no significant correlation between platelet crit with any iron parameter. Conclusion: This study concludes important iron parameter affecting the platelet was serum iron and transferrin saturation. Patient with severe anemia had higher platelet count, PCT and MPV. Changes in platelet parameter are due to low levels of tissue iron. Decrease iron saturation also stimulates megakaryopoiesis and iron has inhibitory effect on platelet counts.

Keywords: Iron Deficiency Anemia; Platelets; Women; Thrombocytosis.