Using transferrin saturation as a diagnostic criterion for iron deficiency: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Public Health
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Iron deficiency is the world's most prevalent micronutrient deficiency, posing significant public health challenges.
• Under-diagnosis is common due to limited testing and lack of standardized biological markers and thresholds.
• This deficiency contributes to considerable morbidity and mortality globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the literature on diagnosing iron deficiency.
• To evaluate diagnostic methods for iron deficiency, particularly in patients with chronic inflammatory conditions.
• To identify optimal strategies for improving the detection of iron deficiency.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed.
• Included publications were filtered for relevance to iron deficiency diagnosis.
• Analysis focused on the utility of specific biomarkers, including ferritin and transferrin saturation.

Main Results:

• The review identified 41 relevant publications.
• Ferritin levels alone are insufficient for accurate diagnosis in all cases.
• Incorporating transferrin saturation alongside ferritin significantly enhances the diagnosis of iron deficiency.

Conclusions:

• Transferrin saturation is a valuable addition to ferritin for diagnosing iron deficiency.
• This combined approach is particularly beneficial as a first-line diagnostic tool for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases.
• Improved diagnostic strategies are needed to address the global challenge of iron deficiency.