RESUMEN
This study aims at reaching a parameter that can be used as an early predictor of iron deficiency in haemodialysedchronic renal failure patients caused by recent introduction or recent change of erythropoietin dose. Fouily two chronic renal failure patients on regular haemodialysisweresubjected to conventionalirondeficiencydetection profile, as well as soluble transferrin receptor estimation, zinc protoporphyrin estimation, and"eticulocyteparameters,mainly reticulocytic haemoglobin.From these fourty two patients only 34 were found to be iron nleted after a therapeutic trial of 1000 mg iron infusion . The markers that succeded u detect this stage were only serum ferritin, VK'V,MCH, and reticulocytic haemoglobin Ir][PO.05].Theseparameterswere further subjected to ROC curve analysis that reached the conclusion that only mature cell haemoglobin [area under the curve of 0.966], achieved a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 79% at a cut off of 26.85 , the seeond one [CHr] achieved a sensitivity of 0%, as well as a specificity of 84% at a cut off of 27.3.These two parameters were found to be highly correlated to each other [r =0.71 ,P<0.01].Anyhowtheywerehighly statisticallydifferentfromeach other[t=82,P=0.0000],that means that they could not be used interchangeably.After a follow up study [for one week,two weeks] CHr succeded to prove itself as an early predictor of iron deficiency anemia.We conclude therefore that retiuculocytic haemoglobin alone can be used as a sensitive and specific marker of iron deficiency. It can be used for early prediction of iron deficiency state specially the functional iron deficiency anemia that is produced iatrogenicaily after blinded Erythropoietin infusion