Evaluation of erythropoiesis by serum transferrin receptor and ferritin in infants aged 0-6 months

Ulukol B., Tezcan S., Akar N., Gokce H., Cin S.

PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY, vol.21, no.4, pp.293-305, 2004 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 21 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2004
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/08880010490440428
  • Journal Name: PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.293-305
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate erythropoiesis in 198 healthy babies aged 0-6 months by determination of their blood count, serum transferrin receptor (STfR), and ferritin levels. Anemia and microcytosis were present in 9% and 13% of the sample, respectively. Microcytosis rate was as high as 45% in 6-month-old babies. In infants with normal blood counts, the values of sTfR/ferritin and sTfR-F index were increasing with the increase of sTfR and decrease of ferritin beginning from 2 months of age. In the 5- to 6-month-old group, sTfR concentrations, sTfR/ferritin ratio, and sTfR-F index were higher in infants with anemia and microcytosis. This research showed a high frequency of iron deficiency detected in otherwise healthy babies. Only problems with early weaning practices were found to be significantly more common in babies with iron deficiency.