Diagnostic value of reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent to confirm iron deficiency in full-term infants

Diagnostics of Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in outpatient pediatric practice is often based on decreased hemoglobin level. Latent iron deficiency diagnostic is not a part of current routine practice.

Objective. To study the diagnostic value of red blood cell indices and reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent in diagnostics of iron deficiency in full-term infants.

Children characteristics and research methods. A prospective cohort study of healthy full-term children aged from 6 to 12 months at the children hospitals of Samara and Tolyatti. The laboratory examination included a general blood test to determine the concentration of hemoglobin, the number of red blood cells, red blood cell indices, and reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (Ret-He); to determine serum ferritin and C-reactive protein. The AUC (area under the curve) was used to determine the diagnostic value of quantitative indicators. The children with anemia without iron deficiency and children who received iron supplements within 1 month prior to laboratory examination were excluded from the analysis.

Results. The study involved 207 children. When diagnosing iron deficiency in children, the highest AUC was found in Ret-He: 0.747 [0.679; 0.816] in 6-months-old children and 0.790 [0.708; 0.871] in 1-year-old children. The Ret-He diagnostic value was higher in children with iron deficiency: AUC 0.826 [0.754; 0.898] in 6- months-old children and 0.865 [0.809; 0.920] in 1-year-old children.

Conclusion. Ret-He is a better predictor of iron deficiency in children under 1 year as compared to the red blood cell indices. The diagnostic value of red blood cell indices and Ret-He is higher in case of iron deficiency anemia than in case of iron deficiency conditions.

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