ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) is a reliable tool for assessing functional iron status and erythropoietic activity in adults, but little is known about its role in children. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sTfR concentrations in healthy children and age and sex-related variations. A further aim was to determine the relationship of these concentrations with other iron parameters and with erythropoietin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Blood samples from 155 healthy children aged 1-10 years old were obtained to determine sTfR, iron status indices and erythropoietin. The sTfR/ferritin ratio and the sTfR-ferritin index (sTfR/log ferritin) were calculated. Iron deficiency and increased erythropoiesis were eliminated. RESULTS: Values of sTfR, the sTfR/ferritin ratio and the sTfR-F index were 1.94 0.41mg/L (95 % CI: 1.14-2.74 mg/L), 83 40.3 (95 % CI: 4-162) and 1.4 0.36 (95 % CI: 0.69-2.1) respectively. No significant sex-related differences were found. Children aged 1-2 years old showed the highest sTfR levels. sTfR was directly related to erythrocyte count (r: 0.17; p < 0,03), hemoglobin level (r: 0.16; p < 0.05) and total iron binding capacity (r: 0.258; p < 0,001). In the multiple linear regression analysis, the best predictors of sTfR concentrations were log erythropoietin (p < 0.016) and total iron binding capacity (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: sTfR concentrations are elevated in children due to increased iron requirements for growth. In healthy children sTfR concentrations are related to erythropoietic activity and intracellular iron requirements. The current data are useful as a standard reference for healthy children.
Subject(s)
Receptors, Transferrin/blood , Child , Child, Preschool , Erythropoietin/blood , Female , Humans , Infant , Iron/blood , Male , Reference ValuesABSTRACT
We expose a case of sarcoidosis with pulmonary and intrathoracic ganglion infection added to an infrequent testicular and epididymal affection simultaneously. We only have found this association in six cases in the revised literature, but we didn't found the affection of Morgagni's hydatid by sarcoidosis. The presence of testicular mass and hilar adenopathies in young patients make us to think about a diagnostic threat. The inguinal treatment with testicular biopsy has been chosen like the diagnostic management in this case.
