Assessment of Urinary Ferritin as a Non-Invasive Diagnostic Test for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pediatric Populations:
Hossein Esfahani1, Arya Derakhshesh2, Ali Reza Soltanian3
1Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Hamadan University of Medical Science, Hamadan, Iran.
Insights
Urinary ferritin is not a reliable indicator for diagnosing iron deficiency anemia in children. This study found a weak correlation between serum and urinary ferritin, suggesting urine tests are insufficient for diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Clinical Chemistry
- Hematology
Background:
- Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a global health concern, particularly impacting children and adolescents.
- Complications associated with IDA necessitate accurate and accessible diagnostic methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between serum ferritin and urinary ferritin levels.
- To evaluate the potential of urinary ferritin as a non-invasive biomarker for diagnosing IDA in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 45 children with IDA and 45 healthy controls.
- Serum and urinary ferritin levels were measured using chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA).
- Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.
Main Results:
- A weak positive correlation (Spearman coefficient = 0.155) was observed between serum and urinary ferritin.
- Mean serum ferritin was significantly lower in the IDA group (13.39 ng/mL) compared to controls (63.7 ng/mL).
- Mean urinary ferritin levels showed minimal difference between groups (3.50 ng/mL in IDA vs. 3.98 ng/mL in controls).
Conclusions:
- There is an insignificant relationship between serum and urinary ferritin levels in children.
- Urinary ferritin lacks the diagnostic accuracy to serve as a reliable non-invasive alternative for diagnosing iron deficiency anemia.
Background & Objective:
Iron deficiency anemia is the most prevalent form of anemia worldwide and can cause complications in children and adolescents. This study investigates the correlation between serum and urinary ferritin and evaluates the feasibility of using urinary ferritin to diagnose iron deficiency.
Methods:
In this case-control study, 45 patients with iron deficiency anemia were included in the case group and 45 healthy children in the control group. From each participant, 1.5 mL blood and 5 mL of urine were collected, and serum and urinary ferritin levels were measured using the chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) method with Mindray kits. The results were analyzed and compared using SPSS software, version 16 (IBM Corp).
Results:
The mean age of patients was 7.95 years, and that of controls was 7.26 years. Female patients constituted 62.2% of the case group, and female controls represented 46.7% of the control group. In patients, the mean serum ferritin level was 13.39 ng/mL (SD = 6.37), and the mean urinary ferritin level was 3.50 ng/mL (SD = 2.65). In controls, the mean serum ferritin level was 63.7 ng/mL (SD = 41.8), and the mean urinary ferritin level was 3.98 ng/mL (SD = 2.89). Urinary ferritin demonstrated lower diagnostic accuracy for iron deficiency anemia compared with serum ferritin. The Spearman correlation coefficient between serum and urinary ferritin was 0.155, indicating a weak positive correlation.
Conclusion:
The findings of this study demonstrate an insignificant relationship between urine and serum ferritin levels. These findings indicate that urinary ferritin is not a reliable non-invasive alternative for diagnosing iron deficiency.
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