Abstract
Introduction: Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most widespread disorders in humans. Early diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is challenged by assessing serum ferritin levels. However, studies across the globe have concluded that ferritin is present in quantifiable amounts in saliva. Thus, in the study, the scope of using salivary ferritin as a diagnostic biomarker in detecting iron deficiency anemia is studied.Methods: Levels of salivary ferritin in patients with iron deficiency anemia (test group, n=15) and non-anemic subjects (control group, n=15) were assessed by an automated chemilumesent method with a total sample size of 30 volunteers.Results: The mean level of salivary ferritin in subjects with iron deficiency anemia was 139.37±47.90 µg/dl, which was significantly higher when compared to the level in non-anemic subjects, 94.18±62.90 µg/dl, which was contradictory when compared to the levels of serum ferritin.Conclusion: The raise in the levels of salivary ferritin in subjects with iron deficiency anemia can be attributed to the iron-dependent enzymatic function of saliva. Thus, salivary ferritin can become a biomarker that helps in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia; however, more research is needed for devising a more standard cutoff value for diagnosing iron deficiency anemia.
Highlights
Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most widespread disorders in humans
The mean level of salivary ferritin in subjects with iron deficiency anemia was 139.37±47.90 μg/dl, which was significantly higher when compared to the level in non-anemic subjects, 94.18±62.90 μg/dl, which was contradictory when compared to the levels of serum ferritin
Chemiluminescent analysis showed that salivary ferritin levels were higher in subjects with iron deficiency anemia (Group 2) with a mean of 139.37±47.90 μg/dl, while in the control subjects, the level measured to a mean value of 94.18±62.90 μg/dl (Group 1), which was low when compared to the subjects with iron deficiency anemia
Summary
Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most widespread disorders in humans. Early diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is challenged by assessing serum ferritin levels. The continued persistence of this anemia in many parts of the world is a challenge that needs to receive the highest priority in terms of attention and action This is because the gold standard test for diagnosing anemia is assessing the levels of serum ferritin and iron, which requires drawing of venous blood [2,3]. This invasive method puts forth a number of practical and psychological complications, casting out a hurdle that prevents the clinicians in early diagnosis and treatment of this widespread disorder. The above-mentioned issue conveys a situation wherein the advent of newer diagnostic methods for detecting iron deficiency anemia is of prime importance
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