The significance of serum transferrin receptor levels in the diagnosis of the coexistence of anemia of chronic disease and iron deficiency anemia.

Osman Yokus,Bilal Yilmaz,Mehmet Rami Helvaci,Ozlem Sahin Balcik,Murat Albayrak,Engin Sennaroglu

doi:10.5152/eajm.2011.02

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common cause of microcytic anemia throughout the world. Ferritin levels are good indicators of iron stores; however, levels may increase irrespective of iron stores in cases of chronic disease. Therefore, it is difficult to diagnose iron deficiency anemia coexisting with anemia of chronic disease. To determine the level of transferrin receptor in subjects, 30 patients with iron deficiency anemia, 30 patients with anemia of chronic disease and 30 patients with both diseases were included in the study. Mean serum transferrin receptor levels were 5.99±2.98 mg/L in the iron deficiency anemia group, 1.90±1.15 mg/L in the anemia of chronic disease group and 3.07±0.90 mg/L in the combination group. Comparing groups with each other revealed significant differences (p<0.05). It is concluded that the assessment of serum transferrin receptor levels is a useful method for the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia in patients.

Highlights

Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) is the second most common cause of microcytic anemia after the iron deficiency anemia (IDA)
It is concluded that the assessment of serum transferrin receptor levels is a useful method for the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia in patients
The level of ferritin is a good indicator of iron stores; it usually increased at the anemia of chronic disease

Summary

Introduction

Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) is the second most common cause of microcytic anemia after the iron deficiency anemia (IDA). The level of ferritin is a good indicator of iron stores; it usually increased at the anemia of chronic disease. It is difficult to diagnose IDA coexisting with ACD. If these anemias are overlapped and can not be diagnosed by routine examination, bone marrow aspiration smear stained with Prussian blue could be used to show iron storage [1]. ACD is a normochromic-normocytic or hypochromic microcytic anemia.

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion