title: Evaluation of Platelet and Red Blood Cell Parameters with Proposal of Modified Score as Discriminating Guide for Iron Deficiency Anemia and β-Thalassemia Minor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) and β-Thalassaemia Minor (BTM) are considered to be important cause of microcytic hypochromic anaemia. Studies have evaluated various red cell parameters which are easily available on electronic cell counters for discrimination of IDA and BTM in different ethnic populations. The analysis of previously established red cell discriminative indices with new cut-off have also been done by studies which may be relevant in their set of population for differentiation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study was conducted to propose a modified score considering the established red blood cell indices with a new cut off and to formulate index taking into consideration Red Blood Cell (RBC) and platelet parameters for early differentiation of IDA and BTM.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prospective study included cases with MCV< 80 fl and new modified score of 11 was proposed by statistically analysing the previous discriminative indices with new cut-off by giving score 0 for IDA and score 1 for BTM. The summation of all scores gave modified 11 T score. A new cut off for differentiation of IDA and BTM was proposed in the study by using ROC curve and analysing AUC which statistically corresponded to highest accuracy. An attempt to formulate a new index using the RBC and platelet parameters was also made for initial discrimination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 153 cases and in addition to red blood cell parameters, mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width also showed statistical significant difference between IDA and BTM (p<0.05). Modified new 11 T score was 87.6% specific for BTM while proposed index showed 80.4% negative predictive value for BTM and correctly identified 75% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed new index and modified 11T score may be used for initial discrimination of BTM and IDA especially in resource limited regions. Apart from RBC parameters, mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width may also be useful in early differentiation. It is essential to determine cut off of every index in given population for differentiation of these two conditions.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Pathology, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences , Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India .
authors.forename: Harish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences , Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India .
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shrivastava
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences , Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India .
authors.forename: Smita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences , Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India .
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rawat
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences , Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India .
authors.forename: Ruchira
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nautiyal
keywords: Hematological indicators; Microcytic hypochromic anemia; Platelet indices