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Pediatric reference intervals for soluble transferrin receptor and transferrin receptor-ferritin index

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital, London Health Science Centre, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, 800 Commissioners Road East, London, Ontario, N6A 7W9, Canada

    Cara Lianne Ooi, Ajay Parkash Sharma & Guido Filler

  2. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Canada, K1H 8L1

    Nathalie Lepage

  3. Sanquin Diagnostic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Ed Nieuwenhuys

Authors
  1. Cara Lianne Ooi
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  2. Nathalie Lepage
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  3. Ed Nieuwenhuys
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  4. Ajay Parkash Sharma
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  5. Guido Filler
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Correspondence to Guido Filler.

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Ooi, C.L., Lepage, N., Nieuwenhuys, E. et al. Pediatric reference intervals for soluble transferrin receptor and transferrin receptor-ferritin index. World J Pediatr 5, 122–126 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-009-0024-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-009-0024-3

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