Relationship between Soluble Transferrin Receptor 1, Thyroid Function, and Hematological Parameters in Children with Iron Deficiency Anemia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24086/cuesj.v10n2y2026.pp35-44Keywords:
Anemia, Thyroxine, soluble Transferrin Receptor 1, Thyroid gland, Preschool childrenAbstract
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) has been determined as the most common type of anemia in children. The objective of the study was to evaluate the changes and relationships among soluble transferrin receptor 1 (sTfR1), thyroid function, and hematological parameters in children with IDA. Ninety children (55 patients with IDA and 35 healthy controls) enrolled in this study. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin were used to diagnose IDA in different age groups. An unpaired t-test or Mann-Whitney-U test was used for comparisons of two different groups, using Pearson’s correlation coefficient or Spearman rho correlation coefficients according to the distribution of data. The average age of the individuals included was 3.132±1.67. IDA patients had significantly decreased levels of RBCs (p<0.0146), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (p<0.0001), and mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) (p<0.0001), but significantly higher levels of sTfR1 (p<0.0001) and non-significantly higher levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (p=0.1658) compared to the healthy controls. The identical value determined for free thyroxine (fT4) in IDA and healthy control children was non-significant (p=0.9350). The majority of the IDA patients had characteristics of microcytic and hypochromic anemia. Significantly positive correlations were observed between MCV and MCH (r=0.8251, p<0.0001), and MCH and fT4 (r=0.2661, p<0.0495). In addition, non-significant positive correlations were found between RBC, MCV, MCH, and fT4 as well as between sTfR1 and TSH. Non-significantly negative correlations were found between RBC, MCV, MCH, fT4, and sTfR1 and TSH. The investigation showed differences in parameter levels between IDA and healthy control groups and a relationship between them.
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