title: The significance of serum transferrin receptor levels in the diagnosis of the coexistence of anemia of chronic disease and iron deficiency anemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Iron deficiency anemia is the most common cause of microcytic anemia throughout the world. Ferritin levels are good indicators of iron stores; however, levels may increase irrespective of iron stores in cases of chronic disease. Therefore, it is difficult to diagnose iron deficiency anemia coexisting with anemia of chronic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine the level of transferrin receptor in subjects, 30 patients with iron deficiency anemia, 30 patients with anemia of chronic disease and 30 patients with both diseases were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean serum transferrin receptor levels were 5.99±2.98 mg/L in the iron deficiency anemia group, 1.90±1.15 mg/L in the anemia of chronic disease group and 3.07±0.90 mg/L in the combination group. Comparing groups with each other revealed significant differences (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that the assessment of serum transferrin receptor levels is a useful method for the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia in patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Okmeydani Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yokus
authors.affiliation: Department of 4. Internal Medicine, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albayrak
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Fatih University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem Sahin
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Balcik
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Mustafa Kemal University School of Medicine, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Rami
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Helvaci
authors.affiliation: Department of 4. Internal Medicine, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sennaroglu
keywords: Anemia of chronic disease; Iron deficiency anemia; Serum transferrin receptor level