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The usefulness of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) in differentiating anemia occurring in young children
Barbara Kamer1, Elżbieta Dółka, Renata Pasowska
1Second Department of Pediatrics and Allergology, Polish Mothers' Memorial Hospital - Research Institute, Lodz, Poland. bkamer@wp.pl
Insights
Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and the sTfR/log ferritin index (sTfR/logF) effectively differentiate iron deficiency anemia in young children. These markers are valuable for diagnosing anemia, especially when distinguishing iron deficiency from infection.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Hematology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Anemia is common in young children, with iron deficiency and infection being primary causes.
- Differentiating between iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and anemia of infection (IA) is crucial for appropriate treatment.
- Biomarkers are needed to accurately distinguish these conditions in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the utility of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and the sTfR/log ferritin index (sTfR/logF) in differentiating anemia types in young children.
- To evaluate these markers in distinguishing iron deficiency from infectious causes of anemia.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 96 children aged 6-36 months, categorized into four groups: IDA, IA, IA with iron deficiency (IA+ID), and healthy controls (CG).
- Measurement of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), hematological indices, and iron balance parameters.
- Calculation of the sTfR/log ferritin index (sTfR/logF) for each child.
Main Results:
- Mean sTfR and sTfR/logF values were significantly higher in children with IDA and IA+ID compared to those with IA or CG.
- Both sTfR and sTfR/logF demonstrated substantial elevation in the presence of iron deficiency, irrespective of infection.
Conclusions:
- Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and the sTfR/logF index are effective indicators of iron deficiency in young children.
- These markers show promise as valuable tools in the differential diagnosis of anemia in pediatric patients, aiding in the distinction between iron deficiency and infectious causes.
Abstract:
We evaluated the usefulness of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and of the sTfR/log ferritin index(sTfR/logF) in the differentiation of anemia in young children. 96 children, aged 6-36 months, were examined.From these, four groups were distinguished: 1 - (IDA): 33 children with anemia due to iron deficiency; 2 -(IA): 19 children with infectious anemia without iron deficiency; 3 - (IA + ID): 16 children with infectious anemia and iron deficiency; and 4 - a comparator group (CG): 28 healthy children without iron deficiency. The soluble transferrin receptor, hematological indices and iron balance were evaluated and the sTfR/logF was calculated for each examined child. It was proved that the mean values of sTfR and sTfR/logF were substantially higher in children with anemia due to iron deficiency, and in those with infectious anemia and iron deficiency,vs. those with infectious anemia or in healthy children. This suggests that both sTfR and the sTfR/logF are good indicators of iron deficiency and could be useful in the differential diagnostics of anemia, especially in young children.
