The correlation of transferrin saturation and ferritin in non-splenectomized thalassemic children

Abstract

Thalassemia is a public health problem in Thailand. Progressive iron overload is the life-limiting complication commonly found in thalassemic patients. The assessment of body iron stores is essential for determining the need and efficacy of iron chelation. The parameters of serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and serum ferritin were studied in 79 children with thalassemia diseases. The ages ranged from 1 to 17 years with a mean of 7 years and 10 months. Neither of them had clinical symptoms of hepatitis. The correlation between transferrin saturation (TS = serum iron/TIBC x 100) and serum ferritin was shown in the equation of TS = 10.253 In (ferritin) (r = 0.956, p = 0.000). For example, TS = 70.83 per cent indicates serum ferritin of 1,000 ng/ml. Thus, where serum ferritin is not feasible but serum iron and TIBC are available, TS can be used to estimate the level of serum ferritin. Therefore, the assessment of iron stores and monitoring of iron chelation in thalassemic patients can be effectively achieved.