Detection of Iron Deficiency Using Reticulocyte Haemoglobin in Adult Patients Having Microcytic Hypochromic Anaemia With Normal or Raised Serum Ferritin

Abstract

Objective: To detect iron deficiency using reticulocyte haemoglobin in patients with microcytic hypochromic anemia having normal or raised serum ferritin.

Methodology: This Cross-sectional study was conducted in department of Haematology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi from February 2023 to July 2023, included 323 patients who presented with microcytic hypochromic anemia having normal or raised serum ferritin. Blood samples were taken in an Ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) anticoagulant tubes and Sysmex XN 1000 analyzer was used to measure RBC parameters including reticulocyte Haemoglobin (Ret-He). Chi-square test and Independent T-test were applied for qualitative variables and quantitative variables respectively.  Pearson’s correlation test was used to correlate reticulocyte hemoglobin with RBC parameters. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Current study showed that the reticulocyte Haemoglobin with a cutoff value of 29 pg (sensitivity of 94.63% and a specificity of 85.48%, p<0.0001) is an efficient and reliable indicator to detect iron deficiency in patients presenting with microcytic hypochromic blood picture with normal or raised serum ferritin (r = +0.217, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Our study concluded that reticulocyte haemoglobin can be a valuable marker for detecting iron deficiency in adult patients with microcytic hypochromic anaemia, especially when serum ferritin levels are normal or elevated.