IMPACT OF IRON PROFILE TO DIAGNOSE IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT END STAGE RENAL DISEASE

ABSTRACT
Background: The diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients has a problem
if only serum ferritin level is considered for diagnosis. Level of serum ferritin in IDA patients with ESRD usually in
normaltohigh range. This is because that serum ferritin is an acute phase protein and elevated in inflammatory process/
chronic diseases. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the problems in iron markers to diagnose the iron
deficiency anemia in these patients.
Material and Methods: The present comparative cross sectional study conducted in the department of Nephrology,
institute of kidney diseases, Hayatabad Medical Complex and Khyber Girls Medical College. Duration of the study was
one year. A total of 200 end stage renal disease patients enrolled in the study.3 ml of blood were collected in an EDTA
vacutainer tube for determination of complete blood count and 3 ml of blood in without anti-coagulant vacutainer tube
for evaluation of serum iron profile. Descriptive data is represented as mean ± standard deviation and range values.
ANOVA test applied to compare the mean values of all 3 groups. Student “t” test was used to study and compare the
levels of all iron markers in IDA with and without ESRD patients.
Findings: The group A (IDA patients with ESRD) had high serum ferritin levels as compared to serum ferritin in group
B patients (IDA without ESRD). The mean values of serum ferritin levels were compared when ANOVA test applied
through SPSS. There was a significant differences seen among the means value of serum ferritin levels of all the three
groups and p value was less than 0.001. However the mean value of TIBC and serum iron in group A & B T had not
significant difference.
Conclusion: The present study reveal that normal to high serum ferritin level found in IDA with ESRD patients while
in IDA without ESRD patients, serum ferritin level is lower than normal range. Complete iron profile are important for
reaching to the ultimate diagnosis of IDA in end stage renal disease patients.
Key Words: End stage renal disease, Iron deficiency anemia, Serum Ferritin, Serum iron, TIBC.