title: [Difference albumin-transferrin interest in the iron deficiency detection in a cohort of 1288 schoolchildren in the district of Tunis].
abstract: Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide especially among young children, women in pregnancy and breastfeeding. This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of ID in 1288 pupil ranging in age from 11 to 14 years. Haemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular Hb (MCH), serum iron (Fe) serum transferrin (Trf), serum ferritin (Ft) and an inflammtory proteic profil (IPP) were measured. The IPP combines the analysis of protein variations: protein results are converted in percent of normal values referenced for the technique used. It has been suggested that on the protein profile, an increase in serum transferrin level compared to a normal serum albumin level (DAT: difference albumin-transferrin), appears early in the course of ID. Iron deficiency was defined by a low serum ferritin (< 15 ng/mL) and/or a pathologic DAT (> 28%). Approximately, 33.8% of children had Ft < 15 ng/mL and 12,8% had DAT > 28% while ferritin values were in the normal range. Diagnosis performance (sensitivity, specificity and diagnosis efficacy) of ferritin and DAT were compared to the performance of high serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) values in 2 populations presenting or not a biological inflammation. Only the diagnosis efficacy of DAT was constant in both situations. In conclusion, the serum ferritin concentration is the first indicator of body storage iron identifying ID, however normal or elevated values of ferritin may be difficult to interpret particulary in the presence of inflammation. sTfR and DAT values are thus reliable indicators of ID in such circumstances.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biochimie Clinique, Hôpital d'Enfants, Tunis.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bibi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benmoussa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torjman
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taboubi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ouali
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cherif
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hamzaoui
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Messaoud
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zouari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fattoum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron