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Pediatric reference intervals for soluble transferrin receptor and transferrin receptor-ferritin index
Cara Lianne Ooi1, Nathalie Lepage, Ed Nieuwenhuys
1Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, London Health Science Centre, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, Ontario, N6A 7W9, Canada.
Background:
Recent studies showing an improved diagnosis of iron deficiency (ID) with soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and sTfR-ferritin index did not take into account the age-dependency of sTfR and ferritin. Moreover, there is a paucity of data on pediatric reference intervals for sTfR and sTfR-ferritin index.
Methods:
A study cohort of 436 apparently healthy children was analyzed to establish reference intervals for ferritin, transferrin, sTfR and sTfR-ferritin index. To account for age-dependency, standard deviation scores (Z-scores) for these markers were calculated. The association between these parameters and C-reactive protein (CRP) was analyzed.
Results:
The Z-scores of ferritin, transferrin and sTfR had a significant association with CRP, whereas the Z-score of sTfR-ferritin did not correlate with CRP. The reference intervals of these parameters were reported.
Conclusion:
Among the different markers of ID, the Z-scores of sTfR, transferrin and ferritin, but not sTfR-ferritin index, associate with the inflammatory status.
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