Utility of sTFR/Ferritin index to differentiate iron deficiency anaemia and anaemia of chronic disease

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency is a common condition that is usually diagnosed using conventional\xa0laboratory tests of iron status, such as serum ferritin and transferrin saturation. However, both ferritin\xa0and transferrin proteins are markedly influenced by inflammation, behaving as acute-phase reactants and\xa0making it difficult to differentiate between iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) and anemia of chronic disease\xa0(ACD).\nObjectives: To assess the utility of sTfR/ Log ferritin Index to differentiate Iron deficiency anaemia and\xa0Anaemia of chronic disease.\nMaterials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, Victoria\xa0hospital and Bowring and Lady Curzon hospital, Bangalore Medical College and Research institute,\xa0Bangalore. A total of 150 blood samples were evaluated, i.e., 50 samples from iron deficiency anaemia\xa0group and 50 samples from patients with anaemia of chronic disorders & 50 samples from healthy normal\xa0individual.\nResults: In present study, samples are age matched with mean age of control 45.6610.23, ACD\xa050.6818.03, IDA 48.1418.47. Hb, MCV, MCHC & MCH were decreased in both the groups. However,\xa0the decrease in Hb & MCV was much more in IDA as compared to ACD. Microcytosis was seen in 92%\xa0cases of IDA while it was observed in only 11% cases of ACD. sTfR/ log ferritin index was >1.5 in 80%\xa0of IDA. 90% of ACD and control subjects had sTfR/log ferritin index \nhigher in IDA (7.7 5.8) as compared to the ACD cases (1.6 0.89) (p\nConclusion: sTFR/Log ferritin index indices is very useful in differentiating pure IDA, ACD and ACD\xa0with coexisting iron deficiency, thus providing a non-invasive alternative to bone marrow iron.\n\nKeywords:\xa0Iron deficiency,\xa0Anemia of chronic disease,\xa0Anemia,\xa0Transferrin receptor\xa0sTFR/Log ferritin index.