All issues > Volume 52(4); 2009

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2009;52(4):435-440. Published online April 15, 2009.

Correlaton between soluble transferrin receptor concentration and inflammatory markers

So Young SY Kim¹, Meong Hi MH Son¹, Jung suk Js Yeom¹, Ji sook Js Park¹, Eun Sil ES Park¹, Ji-Hyun JH Seo¹, Jae-Young JY Lim¹, Chan-Hoo CH Park¹, Hyang-Ok HO Woo¹, Hee-Shang HS Youn¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea

Correspondence Eun Sil ES Park ,Email: espark@gsnu.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: The concentration of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) is estimated as an iron parameter to evaluate erythropoiesis and iron status. The aim of our study is to evaluate the correlation between sTfR concentration and inflammatory parameters and to distinguish iron deficiency anemia from anemia of inflammation.
Methods
: One hundred and forty-four infants younger than two years of age who visited Gyeongsang University Hospital for 7 years from 2000 to 2006 were enrolled. Patients who had hemoglobin (Hb) <11 g/dL and ferritin <12 mg/L were excluded. Routine hematologic lab, serum ferritin, sTfR, and inflammatory markers [C-reactive protein(CRP), interleukin-6(IL-6), and absolute neutrophil count (ANC)] were investigated.
Results
: In all patients, the sTfR concentration showed a correlation with Hb, ferritin, MCV, and ANC, but not with CRP and IL-6. In multiple regression models, positive correlations were found between sTfR concentration and IL-6 (r=0.078, P=0.043), and negative correlations were found between sTfR concentration and ANC (r=-0.117, P=0.033) and MCV (r=-0.027, P=0.009).
Conclusion
: sTfR concentration was influenced by inflammatory parameters. Therefore, sTfR does not appear to be a useful parameter for discriminating between iron deficiency anemia and anemia of inflammation in infants.

Keywords :Receptor, Transferrin, Inflammation, Infant