[Influence of Iron Deficiency on the Index of Thalassemia Screening]

To investigate the influence of iron deficiency on the index of thalassemia screening.

876 blood samples of the couples at childbearing age, who underwent red blood cell analysis, hemoglobin electrophoresis, ferritin and gene diagnosis were selected. The samples were divided into normal, iron deficiency, αthalassemia, α-thalassemia combining with iron deficiency, β-thalassemia and β-thalassemia combining with iron deficiency group. The differences of hematology index and hemolobin value A2 between each groups were analyzed.

The value of Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC in iron deficiency, αthalassemia, α-thalassemia combining with iron deficiency, β-thalassemia and β-thalassemia combining with iron deficiency group all were lower than that of normal group, while the value of RDW-CV was higher, in which the difference between β-thalassemia was the highest. The distribution of HbA2 among each groups was not significantly different expect of β-thalassemia. There was no significant correlation between HbA2 and ferritin level.

RDW-CV increases in both iron deficiency and thalassemia. Iron deficiency has no significant effect on the level of hemoglobin A2.