title: Comparison of erythrocyte indices to differentiate between iron deficiency and alpha-thalassaemias in children with microcytosis and/or hypochromia.
abstract: Erythrocyte indices used to differentiate between iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and thalassaemias have been studied mainly in countries with a high prevalence of IDA or beta-thalassaemias. This study was carried out in the United Arab Emirates where alpha-thalassaemias are prevalent. We studied the predictive value and Youden index of several indices in 85 children aged 6 months to 12 years with microcytosis and/or hypochromia, with or without anaemia (determined by serum measurement of iron or therapeutic iron trial). The best discriminatory indices for detecting IDA versus alpha-thalassaemias were a Green-King index > 65 (correctly identified 75.3% of children, Youden index 44.3) and red cell distribution width >14% (correctly identified 57.8%, Youden index 38.1).
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. hassib.narchi@uaeu.ac.ae
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Narchi
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Basak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015984:Causality; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007501:Iron