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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Detection of iron restriction in anaemic and non-anaemic patients: New diagnostic approaches.

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Objective The aim of this study was to detect iron restriction in non-anaemic patients and iron-restricted erythropoiesis (IRE) in patients with anaemia. Method Haematologic indices and biochemical markers of iron deficiency (ID) were determined using the clinically accepted cut-off level for serum ferritin of ≤30 μg/l as reference of ID. To evaluate the prevalence of iron restriction and IRE in patients with higher ferritin levels we used the thresholds of the markers of ID as reference. Results In the anaemic group 17.1% of patients with ferritin levels >30 μg/l had IRE. The number of patients with IRE declined with increasing ferritin concentration. Approximately 14% of patients without anemia and ferritin levels >30 μg/l had iron restriction because of iron-sequestration syndromes. About 30% of the anaemic patients with IRE had ferritin concentrations in the range >300 μg/l, but no patient of the non-anemic group. Conclusion Detection of iron restriction and IRE in patients with ferritin levels >30 μg/l is not possible with a single test used in isolation. Based on the results, we have developed a scoring system to provide optimal guidance for the evaluation of iron restriction in non-anaemic patients and iron-restricted erythropoiesis (IRE) in patients with anaemia. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.