The alternative Thomas-plot: A new tool for effective anemia diagnostics

The Thomas-plot has proven to be a helpful tool to discriminate between different types of anemia. This plot combines the reticulocyte hemoglobin content (Ret-He) with the soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR)/log ferritin (fer) ratio. In this study, we designed an alternative Thomas-plot in which Ret-He is combined with the transferrin (Tf)/log ferritin ratio. We validated both Thomas-plots in a population of anemic patients and compared the performance to the current laboratory diagnostics of anemia.

A total of 536 anemic patients were included. The first 188 patients were used to generate ROC curves to define the optimal cut-off values for both Thomas-plots. With the following 348 patients included we studied the performance of the alternative and classical Thomas-plots compared to current anemia diagnostics.

Cut-off values were defined (Ret-He: 31.2 pg, sTfR/log(fer): 0.91, and Tf/log(fer): 1.71). With both Thomas-plots the amount of e causa ignota (ECI) cases dropped from 39% to 27%. A more in depth analysis on the iron status of anemia of chronic disease (ACD) patients and a subdivision between latent and classical iron deficiencies could be made with the help of both plots. A shift from classical iron deficiency anemia (IDA) cases according to the classical Thomas-plot toward functional IDA according to the alternative Thomas-plot was observed.

The alternative Thomas-plot is an effective tool that gives a more in depth view on the iron status of anemic patients. In addition, it is easier to implement due to the use of transferrin rather than the soluble transferrin receptor.