Serum Transferrin Receptors in Children with Hypochromic Microcytic Anaemia

Abstract

Hypochromic microcytic anaemia includes iron deficiency, anaemia of chronic disorders, beta thalassemia trait and sideroblastic anaemia. To rule out the cause of hypochromic microcytic anaemia is a diagnostic difficulty. The conventional laboratory tests used for diagnosis have few disadvantages. Serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) is the most reliable method for assessment of body iron. Eighty four children were included in this study. They were further divided into four groups: iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), anaemia of chronic disorders (ACD), beta thalassemia trait (β TT) and controls. Children with IDA and ACD were diagnosed on the basis of history and serum iron profile. Subjects with β TT had HbA2 > 3.5%. sTfR were performed on all subjects. Level of sTfR in patients with IDA was 5.79 μg/ml ± 1.3 μg/ml. In patients with anaemia of chronic disorders (ACD), β thalassemia trait and controls mean sTfR were 2.18 μg/ml ± 0.6 μg/ml, 2.1μg/ml ± 0.5 μg/ml and 2.0 μg/ml ± 0.5 μg/ml respectively. These results show level of sTfR was raised in IDA when compared with controls or ACD and β TT (p value < 0.001).