UNLABELLED: Iron deficiency is the most frequent deficiency in people, especially in infants and small children. To obtain a correct diagnosis there is need to perform complex hematological and biochemical tests. In recent years studies on soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) as an index of iron deficiency have been carried out, but mainly in adults. THE AIM OF THESE STUDIES: To estimate usefulness of signification sTfR level for iron deficiency anaemia diagnosis in children up to three years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group comprised 98 children aged 6 to 36 month. Depending on haematological and biochemical results 5 groups of examined children were separated: (1) with iron deficiency anaemia, (2) with latent iron deficiency, (3) with iron deficiency and chronic diseases anaemia, (4) with periinfections anaemia and (5) control. In all examined children the level of sTfR were estimated and its specificity, sensitivity and soundness was evaluated. RESULTS: Average levels of sTfR in children with iron deficiency were significantly higher compared to results in groups without iron deficiency. Specificity, sensitivity and soundness of sTfR were higher than 90% in all examined groups. CONCLUSION: An analysis of results showed that sTfR level seems to be a test which results correlate with iron status in infants and small children well.
UNLABELLED: Iron deficiency is the most frequent deficiency in people, especially in infants and small children. To obtain a correct diagnosis there is need to perform complex hematological and biochemical tests. In recent years studies on soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) as an index of iron deficiency have been carried out, but mainly in adults. THE AIM OF THESE STUDIES: To estimate usefulness of signification sTfR level for iron deficiency anaemia diagnosis in children up to three years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group comprised 98 children aged 6 to 36 month. Depending on haematological and biochemical results 5 groups of examined children were separated: (1) with iron deficiency anaemia, (2) with latent iron deficiency, (3) with iron deficiency and chronic diseases anaemia, (4) with periinfections anaemia and (5) control. In all examined children the level of sTfR were estimated and its specificity, sensitivity and soundness was evaluated. RESULTS: Average levels of sTfR in children with iron deficiency were significantly higher compared to results in groups without iron deficiency. Specificity, sensitivity and soundness of sTfR were higher than 90% in all examined groups. CONCLUSION: An analysis of results showed that sTfR level seems to be a test which results correlate with iron status in infants and small children well.