Clinical significance of soluble transferrin receptors in hypochronic microcytic anaemias

ABSTRACT

The interaction of plasma transferrin with specific membrane transferrin receptors in erythroid precursors is crucial for the process of iron delivery to cells. During this process, soluble truncated monomers of membrane transferrin receptors [sTfRs] are delivered in the serum and their levels appear to be related to the number of erythroid precursors in the bone marrow and to the body iron status. Our aim was to determine the value of sTfRs in the diagnosis of hypochromic micro cytic anaemias. Levels of sTfRs were estimated in the serum of 45 paediatric patients presenting with hypochromic microcytic anaemia. Patients were divided into three groups according to their diagnosis [IDA, A CD and thalassaemia, each group consisting of 15 patients. Ten healthy age and sex matched controls were included in our study. Patients with iron deficiency anaemia [IDA] had significantly higher levels of sTfRs [mean=14.83 +/- 3.38 mg/U than normal controls [mean=4.1 +/- 1.l mg/L] and both patients with thalassaemia [mean=9.27 +/- 4.02 mg/U] and anaemia of chronic illness [ACD] [mean=2.43 +/- l.38 mg/U. sYfRs did not significantly differ in the group of ACD patients from normal controls. Although our thalassaemia patients showed lower sTfRs levels than patients with IDA, their levels were significantly higher than both A CD patients and controls. In thalassaemia patients with Hb F levels of>40%, there was a positive correlation between sTfR levels and the percentage of Hb F