Pediatric Reference Intervals for Soluble Transferrin Receptor and Transferrin Receptor-ferritin Index

Authors

Cara Lianne Ooi, University of Western Ontario
Nathalie Lepage, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON
Ed Nieuwenhuys, Sanquin Diagnostic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Ajay Parkash Sharma, University of Western Ontario
Guido Filler, University of Western Ontario

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2009

Journal

World Journal of Pediatrics

Volume

5

Issue

2

First Page

122

Last Page

126

URL with Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12519-009-0024-3

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recent studies showing an improved diagnosis of iron deficiency (ID) with soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and sTfR-ferritin index did not take into account the age-dependency of sTfR and ferritin. Moreover, there is a paucity of data on pediatric reference intervals for sTfR and sTfR-ferritin index.

METHODS: A study cohort of 436 apparently healthy children was analyzed to establish reference intervals for ferritin, transferrin, sTfR and sTfR-ferritin index. To account for age-dependency, standard deviation scores (Z-scores) for these markers were calculated. The association between these parameters and C-reactive protein (CRP) was analyzed.

RESULTS: The Z-scores of ferritin, transferrin and sTfR had a significant association with CRP, whereas the Z-score of sTfR-ferritin did not correlate with CRP. The reference intervals of these parameters were reported.

CONCLUSION: Among the different markers of ID, the Z-scores of sTfR, transferrin and ferritin, but not sTfR-ferritin index, associate with the inflammatory status.