Transeferrin and haptoglobin, age and sex variations

ABSTRACT

Immunoturbidimetric technique was used to measure serum transferrin and haptoglobin levels in 120 subjects representing different age groups starting from birth till 80 years. Both sexes were represented almost equaly Plasma transferrin levels showed a gradual rise from birth till the age of 15 years and then dropped sharply at the age of 20 years. A slight decrease was then observed starting from the age of 24 to reach its lowest level at the age of 65 years. The highest level of transferrin was observed at 15 years which was significantly higher than in older age groups. Serum haptoglobin was absent in the newborn and started to appear at the age of one month. Then it showed marked increase from age of one month to the age of 30 Years, remaining relatively constant between 30 and 40 years then gradually increased to reach the highest level at the age of 65 years which was significantly different from other age groups. No sex difference was shown for either transferrin or haptoglobin at all age groups. So-age variations need more focusing to standardize normal levels which requires large number of cases, since it is limited by the high cost of kits in the present study