The Correlation of Transferrin Saturation and Ferritin in Non-Splenectomized Thalassemic Children
SOMPORN WANGRUANGSATHIT, M.D.*,
AMPAIWAN CHUANSUMRIT, M.D.*,
SURADEJ HONGENG, M.D.*
PHONGJAN HATHIRAT, M.D.*,
SAMART PAKAKASAMA, M.D.*,
Affiliation : *Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
AbstractThalassemia 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 tha-
lassemia diseases. The ages ranged from 1 to 17 years with a mean of 7 years and l 0 months. Neither
of them had clinical symptoms of hepatitis. The correlation between transferrin saturation (TS =
serum iron!fiBC x 100) and serum ferritin was shown in the equation of TS = 10.253 ln (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.
Keywords : Transferrin Saturation, Ferritin, Thalassemia
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