Serum transferrin receptors in newborns, healthy children, and children with iron deficiency anemia

Abstract

This study was included 96 subjects divided into the following groups: - Group1:- 26 healthy neonates subdivided into: -Group 1 A: 16 fullterm, Group 1 B: 10 preterm. Group 2: - Cases with (IDA) They are subdivided into: - Group 2 A 27cases with IDA, they don't receive any treatment for IDA. Group 2 B 21 cases with IDA), They were subjected to follow up after treatment in the form of blood transfusion for six of them and oral iron salts for 3 months duration. Group 3: - 22 children without anemia, They are taken as a control group. All participants were subjected to complete history, careful physical examination and laboratory investigations included -1• Complete blood count including reticulocytic count, 2- Serum iron and • j total iron binding capacity (TIBC), 3- Serum ferritin, 4-Serum transferrin receptors .The follow up group had all laboratory tests before and after treatment. The transferrin receptor mediates the uptake of iron from transferrin. The expression of TfRs is regulated post-transcriptionally by intracellular iron by a mechanism that involves iron-responsive elements (IREs) in the 3' untranslated region of TfR mRNA. A consistent age related decrease in STFR concentrations was demonstrated in this study, as there was significant decrease of STfRs with advancement of age. Also a consistent age related decrease in STFR ratio (ratio of STfRs to serum ferritin) was demonstrated in this study as the STFR-levels are higher in children, especially in neonates and infants, than in adults decreasing gradually from the neonatal period to adolescence.