Soluble transferrin receptor and zinc protoporphyrin - competitors or efficient partners?

• Published in: European journal of haematology 2005-10, Vol.75 (4), p.309-317
• Main Authors: Metzgeroth, Georgia, Adelberger, Verena, Dorn-Beineke, Alexandra, Kuhn, Christian, Schatz, Michael, Maywald, Ole, Bertsch, Thomas, Wisser, Hermann, Hehlmann, Rüdiger, Hastka, Jan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; anemia; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - diagnosis; Erythropoiesis; Female; Hemoglobins - analysis; Humans; iron deficiency; Male; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Protoporphyrins - blood; Receptors, Transferrin - blood; Reference Values; soluble transferrin receptor; zinc protoporphyrin
• ISSN: 0902-4441; 1600-0609
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0609.2005.00515.x

:  Objectives: Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) are both parameters of iron deficient erythropoiesis (IDE), the sTfR measurement is commonly regarded to be the more sensitive test. sTfR also reflects erythropoietic activity, it is increased in enhanced erythropoiesis. Methods: We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of sTfR in assessment of iron deficiency (ID) and compared it with ZPP. The study was performed on 174 subjects, in which ID has been precisely staged. Results: Individuals without ID and patients with storage iron depletion only, had normal sTfR values. Patients classified as IDE and patients with iron deficiency anemia had significantly increased sTfR. There was a good correlation between sTfR and hemoglobin (r = −0.86; P