Evaluation and comparison of soluble transferrin receptor in thalassemia carriers and iron deficient patients.

Iron is an essential component in the structure of certain molecules such as hemoglobin (Hb), myoglobin, cytochrome C and some enzymes. The iron gateway to cells is transferrin receptor (TfR). Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) is a product of the TfR that circulates in plasma, its concentration therefore, is proportional to the total concentration of cellular TfR.

Globin chain synthesis is a useful complementary tool in the differential diagnosis of thalassemias.

The present study aimed at differentiating rare types of heterozygous beta-thalassemia (thal) with normal Hb A(2) values from alpha-thal in Iranian carriers by globin chain synthesis in addition to other hematological parameters. Our study groups consisted of 51 normal subjects, 24 heterozygous beta- thalassemic subjects with high Hb A(2), 62 alpha-thal-2 subjects, 34 alpha-thal-1 subjects, six Hb H disease thalassemic subjects, 14 silent beta-thal subjects with normal Hb A(2) values, five deltabeta-thal subjects and two subjects with an association of alpha- and deltabeta-thal (total = 198). Analysis of globin chains was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).