title: Soluble transferrin receptor and immature reticulocytes are not useful for distinguishing iron-deficiency anemia from heterozygous beta-thalassemia.
abstract: Iron deficiency and heterozygous beta-thalassemia are important causes of hypochromic-microcytic anemia. Two laboratory parameters are suggested for the differentiation of such anemia. High-fluorescence reticulocyte counts and soluble transferrin receptor levels were determined in iron-deficiency anemia patients (n = 49) and heterozygous beta-thalassemia patients (n = 43). There was no significant difference in high-fluorescence reticulocyte and soluble transferrin receptor values between the two groups, but a correlation was observed between high-fluorescence reticulocytes and soluble transferrin receptors in iron-deficiency anemia, probably due to increased receptor synthesis as a response to decreased iron content in erythrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gisélia Aparecida Freire Maia
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.forename: Helena Zerlotti Wolf
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Grotto
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood*; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin