Serum ferritin and hematological indices in thalassemia minor and nontransfusion dependent hemoghlobinopathy

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency is not common in thalassemia minor and nontransfusion dependent hemoglobinophaties. The majority of these patients have normal-to-high serum ferritin. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to evaluate serum ferritin levels in alpha and beta thalassemia minor and intermedia and in, hemoglobin H disease, and sickle cell anemia, and to investigate the effect of iron consumption on increasing serum ferritin levels and the role of Mentzer and Srivastava indices in patients with thalassemia minor and low serum ferritin levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 204 patients with alpha-thalassemia minor, beta-thalassemia minor, nontransfusion-dependent thalassemia intermediate, and sickle cell disease were studied. Serum ferritin levels, Mentzer, Srivastava, and Bordbar's formula were measured using erythrocyte indices. RESULTS: Irrespective of iron deficiency status, which was 5.9% and was more common in women, total iron intake was 39%. Iron deficiency status was 3.3% in alpha thalassemia, 9.8% in beta-thalassemia, and 4.5% in sickle cell disease. High and very high serum ferritin levels are more common in beta intermediate thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. Mentzer and Srivastava indices were not significant for differentiating thalassemia minor and iron deficiency, but the Bordbar's formula in thalassemia minor with iron deficiency was statistically significant (119.75). CONCLUSION: Patients with minor thalassemia and nontransfusion dependent hemoglobinopathy had a lower prevalence of iron deficiency according due to due to serum ferritin levels compared to the general population. High and very high ferritin is more common in intermediate thalassemia, hemoglobin H, and sickle cell patients.