Abstract
SummaryBackgroundThe purpose of this study is to investigate whether or not reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (RET-He) is a superior indicator of blood count and other iron parameters in terms of diagnosing iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA), and thus evaluating a patient’s response to oral iron treatment.MethodsThe research population consisted of 217 participants in total: 54 control, 53 ID, 58 non-ID anemia, and 52 IDA patients. A hemoglobin (Hb) value of < 130.0 g/L was defined as indicating anemia for men, while an Hb value of < 120.0 g/L was defined as indicating anemia for women. All patients were administered 270 mg oral elemental iron sulphate daily.ResultsThe RET-He was significantly lower in the IDA group, compared to other groups (IDA: 21.0 ± 4.1, ID: 26.0 ± 4.9, non-ID anemia: 32.1 ± 6.8, control: 36.6 ± 7.0; < 0.001). The ID group had a lower RET-He compared to the non-ID anemia group and the control group. On the 5th day of treatment, the ID and IDA group showed no significant differences in terms of Hb while the RET-He level demonstrated a significant increase. The increase in the RET-He level observed in the IDA group on the 5th day was significantly higher compared to the increase observed in the ID group. A RET-He value of 25.4 pg and below predicted ID diagnosis with 90.4% sensitivity and 49.1% specificity in IDA patients, compared to the ID group.ConclusionsThe results of our study, therefore, suggest that RET-He may be a clinically useful marker in the diagnosis of ID and IDA.
Highlights
Iron deficiency (ID) is globally the most common nutritional deficiency and is the most common cause of anemia
Hemoglobin (Hb) levels may remain normal for a while after iron deposits are diminished, i.e., iron deficiency may be observed without anemia, and only the plasma ferritin level and the plasma transferrin saturation are reduced in this period
The research population consisted of 217 participants in total; 54 control, 58 non-iron deficiency (ID) anemia, 53 ID, and 52 iron deficiency anemia (IDA) patients
Summary
Iron deficiency (ID) is globally the most common nutritional deficiency and is the most common cause of anemia. Hemoglobin (Hb) levels may remain normal for a while after iron deposits are diminished, i.e., iron deficiency may be observed without anemia, and only the plasma ferritin level and the plasma transferrin saturation are reduced in this period. Once iron deposits are depleted, the hemoglobin level begins to drop. This means that this condition of diminished iron deposits in the body is referred to as iron deficiency (ID), and a continuation of this condition and the consequent development of anemia is referred to as iron deficiency anemia (IDA) [1]. The serum ferritin level shows the iron deposited in the body, and very low values indicate iron deficiency. Serum ferritin is an acute phase protein, and may, appear to be normal or high in cases such as infectious, inflammatory conditions and malignancy [3]
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